Pennsylvania Medical Society Announces 2026/27 Innovation Grant Recipients

The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) is pleased to announce the 2026/27 recipients of its annual Innovation Grant. A total of $500,000 was available for members of PAMED to fund projects that encourage, facilitate and recognize innovative and creative approaches to the field of medicine.  

Innovation Grant recipient, Brendan Carry, MD is developing a transdermal codrug patch for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) adherence in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.   

Dr. Carry said, “As an advanced heart failure cardiologist, I've seen firsthand how poor medication adherence undermines outcomes in HFrEF patients.”  

He added, “This grant will accelerate the development of our microneedle transdermal patch platform, enabling sustained, multi-day delivery of a tripartite prodrug combination designed to simplify complex regimens and meaningfully improve patient quality of life." 

Another Innovation Grant recipient, Joan Thode, MD is developing a phone application and curriculum to optimize the logistical transition from pediatric to adult care. 

She said, “In an era of digital information and ubiquitous use of smart phones and devices, our mission is to fill the gaps in transitional health preparation for medically complex patients with an app to provide information, structured preparation, and connections to needed resources.” 

The grants were awarded through a competitive process requiring the submission of Letters of Intent and formal proposals. Five projects were selected:  

Brendan Carry, MD from Danville, PA is an Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiologist   with Continuity Medical, Inc. received $100,000 for the project " Transdermal Codrug Patch for Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) Adherence in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) ".  

Dorian Kusyk, MD from Pittsburgh, PA is a pulmonary and critical care specialist with Allegheny-Singer Research Institute received $77,914 for the project " Objective, Scalable Neuromodulation Optimization Using High-Density Surface EMG to Improve Quality, Access, and Cost-Efficiency of Care”. 

Joan Thode, MD from Lancaster, PA is a pediatrician with Lancaster General Health Penn Medicine received $85,000 for the project “Development of Phone Application and Curriculum to Optimize the Successful Logistical Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care and the Future Provision for Children with Medical Complexity and their Families". 

Serena Wu, MD from Hershey, PA an OBGYN specializing in maternal and fetal medicine with Pennsylvania State University, received $100,00 for the project "The Pregnancy After Loss (PAL) Collaborative Center".  

Denise Xu, MD from Philadelphia, PA a neurologist with the University of Pennsylvania Health System, received $99,918 for the project, "Developing a Risk Prediction Model for Routine Overnight Vital Sign Monitoring". 

For more information on the grant recipient projects, visit www.pamedsoc.org/InnovationGrant  

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Media Contact:  

Myla Merkel  

MediaRelations@pamedsoc.org