PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) Board awarded Curio Digital Therapeutics a $75,000 grant to accelerate the development of technologies, products, and services that support maternal and child wellbeing in New Jersey. Curio was selected alongside 16 other highly promising startups for a grand total of $1.275 million in combined grants. The grants were awarded through CSIT’s Maternal and Infant Health Research & Development (R&D) Grant Program, which launched last June.
Through the Maternal and Infant Health R&D Seed Grant Program, CSIT will advance the innovation economy through the development of critically necessary research, products, and services designed to support maternal and infant health. This effort supports the goals established by the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan, which aims to make New Jersey the safest place in America to deliver a baby, specifically focusing on ending racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. Launched in 2019 by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, Nurture NJ is a comprehensive, whole-of-government effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity and ensure equitable care among women and children of all races and ethnicities in New Jersey.
Curio will be using the CSIT grant to advance maternal health care for New Jersey mothers of color, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans. The enhanced Curio product suite will provide digital-first tools augmented by therapists and health coaches to help new and expecting mothers from underserved communities to reduce their risk of depression and anxiety.
“We are deeply honored to receive this award. Curio’s main mission is to provide every woman with on-demand access to the digital tools that they need to support and empower themselves,” said Curio Digital Therapeutics CEO Shailja Dixit, “We will be using this grant, in collaboration with other community-based organizations to provide accessibility and affordability to all women, especially for women of color and underrepresented groups. Our programs are meant to fill this gap by providing instant access at an affordable cost in a way that allows women access when it is most convenient for them. Between our MamaLift program that supports new and soon-to-be-moms and our FertiLift program assisting women that wish to conceive, we are perfectly positioned to help motherhood in every stage. We are incredibly honored to have been selected and will make sure to maximize the impact this grant has on improving the future for all womankind in New Jersey and beyond.”
The Maternal & Infant R&D Seed Grant Program started as a $750,000 program, but given the high volume of quality applications and interest from the startup community, CSIT doubled the amount available for awards to $1.275 million. As part of the agreement signed last year between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and CSIT, the NJEDA dedicated $250,000 from the Economic Recovery Fund towards this program. CSIT provided the remainder of the funding from its Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 budgets.
NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan noted that the NJEDA’s investment in this program represents the Authority’s commitment to maternal and infant health innovation. The awardees exemplify the type of innovative work that will be housed at the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center currently being developed in Trenton.
“Under Governor Murphy’s and First Lady Murphy’s leadership, CSIT and the NJEDA are finding innovative ways to help make New Jersey the safest place to give birth and focusing on ending racial disparities in maternal and infant health,” Sullivan said. “These grant awards serve the dual purpose of prioritizing investment into programs, research, and services that improve the lives of women and children, while also working to drive down the racial inequities that exist in access to care. In addition, we are furthering opportunities for young, innovative companies in the Garden State.”
About the New Jersey CSIT
In August 2018, Governor Murphy signed legislation re-establishing the former New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology as the CSIT. Comprised of representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as academia, the Commission is tasked with leading the way in promoting the State as a home for academic and technological research, development, and commercialization.
About the NJEDA
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.
To learn more about state resources available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and early-stage companies, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.com and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Curio Digital Therapeutics, Inc.
Curio Digital Therapeutics, Inc. is a pioneer in developing digital therapeutics solutions and interventions across the behavioral health continuum for women throughout the cycle of life. Curio aims to create a world where every woman can access a behavioral health solution at her fingertips. Curio is reshaping maternal mental health care by leveraging proprietary algorithms, clinically validated screening tools, and personalized digital behavioral interventions to facilitate timely identification and care. Curio’s initial products are MamaLift, focused on pregnancy and postpartum, and FertiLift, focused on support during fertility treatments. For more information, visit Curio at https://www.curiodigitaltx.com/.
