The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, through its affiliate SickKids are developing a daily microencapsulated micronutrient powder that contains iron, folic acid, and calcium called "Prenatal Sprinkles." The prenatal supplements are to be taken by pregnant women in rural settings and can potentially reduce maternal hypertensive disease related mortality by 20% and preterm birth by 24%. The powder will contain differential time-released nutrients, help with iron and calcium absorption, prevent calcium-iron interactions and have a smooth texture and appealing flavor.

The Program for Appropriate Technology In Health is developing a solar-powered infant warmer to provide initial warmth before skin-to-skin care is provided to prevent infant death by hypothermia. The warmers lightweight photovoltaic modules developed by HighFlex Solar, Inc and phase-change material will be used to store and maintain heat. It will also include a temperature monitoring device. The warmer will be less than $200 and is currently in development. A two year grant will be used to design and test the warmer until introducing a final design. This technology came to our attention through the Saving Lives at Birth Challenge, 2011.

The Regents of the University of California are developing a blood safety microchip that can assess the safety of donated blood used for transfusions. The chip is a miniature, quick, point of care device that tests for blood-borne infections using enzyme-linked immunoassay and nucleic acid test kits. The ELISA and NAT will alert to the presence of HIV, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and CD4 t-cell counts. The microchip can greatly increase the safety of blood transfusions which are often inadequately screened for viral infections but are needed during obstetrical hemorrhages. This technology came to our attention through the Saving Lives at Birth Challenge, 2011.