#USA #Durham #NIH Grant #Levee Medical #Voro Urologic

Levee Medical Secures $2 Million NIH SBIR Phase II Grant

Levee Medical, a pioneering medical device company focused on enhancing the outcomes for men undergoing prostate cancer surgery, has recently announced a significant achievement. The team has been awarded a Phase II grant under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that amounts to approximately $2 million. This funding is critical as it aims to advance the development and clinical evaluation of the Voro® Urologic Scaffold.

Grant Overview

The grant, effective from August 1, 2026, comes as part of a competitive peer-review process where projects are evaluated based on their scientific integrity, technical merit, and potential benefits to the public. As per the details, the funding will be allocated to various initiatives including clinical data collection, comprehensive training for investigators, and critical design control activities. These steps are fundamental to continuing the development of the Voro Urologic Scaffold.

The Voro scaffold is designed with the intent to support men enduring robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, a surgery that can often lead to complications such as urinary incontinence. The recent closing of patient enrollment in the ARID II trial, a multicenter, randomized pivotal study focused on establishing the safety and effectiveness of the Voro device, has set the stage for timely analysis and results.

Expert Insights

Dr. Mohummad Minhaj Siddiqui, a Professor and Chief of Urology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, commented on the company’s dedication to careful development and clinical evaluation of the Voro. He stated, "Levee Medical has approached the development and clinical evaluation of the Voro with care and discipline; this grant creates an opportunity to deepen the evaluation of a novel device and build on the progress already underway."

Bruce Choi, the Founder and CTO of Levee Medical, expressed gratitude towards the NCI and NIH for their robust support. He emphasized the significant need for improved recovery outcomes for patients facing urinary incontinence post-prostatectomy and how the awarded funding would expand clinical partnerships to address these challenges.

Importance of the NIH SBIR Program

The NIH SBIR program serves as a crucial funding source that enables small U.S. businesses to pursue innovative research and develop technologies with commercialization potential. This assistance allows companies like Levee Medical to further their commitments to healthcare advancements without the pressures associated with dilutive funding. The grant complements Levee’s ongoing efforts towards the Pre-Market Approval (PMA) process for the Voro Urologic Scaffold, aiming to bring it to market successfully in the future.

About Levee Medical

Founded with a vision to advance solutions that minimize surgical complications in prostate cancer treatment, Levee Medical is set to redefine post-operative care with the Voro Urologic Scaffold being their flagship product. Currently, it is designated solely for investigational purposes and is not yet approved for general market use.

To learn more about their initiatives and ongoing projects, visit Levee Medical’s official website.

With this grant, the landscape of prostate cancer treatment and recovery may soon see transformative changes, ultimately leading to improved quality of life for countless men and their families affected by these health issues.