NEW YORK, April 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Edison Awards, celebrating 30 years of honoring the best in innovation and excellence in the development of new products and services, announced today that Sera Prognostics’ PreTRM Test was voted a Silver Winner for innovation in the “Health and Wellness” category at the April 20th event at The Capitale in New York City. Gregory C. Critchfield M.D., M.S., chairman and chief executive officer of Sera Prognostics joined hundreds of senior executives from some of the world’s most recognized companies to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all of the 2017 Edison Award winners.
Being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world, garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the world.
“Our judges recognized the PreTRM Test as a true innovation out of the many products in its category,” said Frank Bonafilia, executive director of the Edison Awards.
The ballot of nominees for the Edison Awards™ was judged by a panel of more than 3,000 leading business executives including past award winners, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medical.
“We are honored to be recognized as the silver winner by the Edison Awards committee,” said Gregory C. Critchfield, M.D., M.S., chairman and chief executive officer of Sera Prognostics. “Their commitment to excellence in innovation and achievement is renowned, and Sera is proud to share in that commitment. Through our PreTRM test, we are working to reduce the social and economic burden of prematurity by providing both physicians and patients the opportunity to intervene earlier, with the goal of improving the lives of women and their babies.”
One of the evening’s many highlights was the presentation of the prestigious Edison Achievement Award to Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots X and Jeffrey R. Immelt, CEO, GE. The award honors innovation leaders and business executives who have made a significant and lasting contribution to innovation throughout their careers. The Edison Achievement Award serves as inspiration to future innovators and to the world at large.
In addition to the Awards Gala, the annual Edison Awards program encompassed a full-day “Meet the Innovators Forum” and the “Innovators’ Showcase,” which offered guests a hands-on experience with many of the winning products.
About the PreTRM® Test
The PreTRM® test is the first and only broadly clinically validated blood test that provides an early and individual risk prediction for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic, singleton pregnancies. The PreTRM® test measures and analyzes proteins in the blood that are highly predictive of preterm birth. The PreTRM® test can help physicians identify early in the pregnancy (as early as 19 weeks of gestation) which women are at increased risk for premature delivery, enabling more informed clinical decisions based on each woman’s individual risk. The PreTRM® test enables researchers to better understand the causes of preterm birth and to develop new therapies to improve newborn health. The PreTRM® test is ordered by a medical professional.
For more information about the PreTRM test, please visit www.PreTRM.com and the PreTRM® test YouTube Channel. You can also join the conversation on Facebook and @PreTRM.
About Sera Prognostics, Inc.
Sera Prognostics, a women’s health company, develops innovative diagnostic tests focused on the early prediction of preterm birth (PTB) risk and other complications of pregnancy. Sera has launched its PreTRM® test, the first and only clinically validated blood test to accurately predict early in pregnancy the risk of premature birth. The test objectively reports to the physician the risk of premature delivery, enabling earlier proactive interventions designed to prolong gestation and improve neonatal health outcomes. Sera’s technology addresses both the health and economic challenges of PTB. The Company’s strong management team has significant clinical development and women's healthcare diagnostic experience. Sera is backed by highly respected healthcare investors, including Domain Associates, InterWest Partners, Catalyst Health Ventures, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and LabCorp, who recently entered into an agreement with the Company to become the exclusive US distributor of the PreTRM® test. Currently, Sera is working with the Gates Foundation to translate the Company’s discoveries into technologies well suited for low-income countries in its journey to improve maternal and infant health globally. Sera Prognostics is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.seraprognostics.com.
About the Edison Awards™
The Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. The Awards have been recognizing and honoring the best in innovations and innovators since 1987. They honor game-changing innovations that are at the forefront of new product and service development, marketing and human-centered design, and are one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of successful innovation. For more information about the Edison Awards complete program and a list of past winners, visit www.edisonawards.com.