Pathway to Cures (P2C) congratulates Dr. Navid Khodaparast, PhD, co-founder and CSO of P2C portfolio company Spark Biomedical, as a Wellcome Leap awardee of “The Missed Vital Sign” worldwide program. This Wellcome Leap program addresses unmet needs in heavy menstrual bleeding with a goal of reducing the time it takes a woman to get effective treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding more than tenfold – from 5 years to 5 months.

“Access to medical care for women with bleeding disorders is mission critical at the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation and hence our venture philanthropy fund Pathway to Cures,” said Tim Brent, Venture Principal and observer on the Spark Biomedical board of directors. “Our investment program offers a unique opportunity for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation to leverage their 75 years of serving people living with blood and bleeding disorders.”

Awardee Dr. Navid Khodaparast comments, “Spark Biomedical has and is developing products, like OhmBody, to support menstrual disorders. The Wellcome Leap award will fund a nationwide pivotal trial in adults with von Willebrand disease and adolescents with idiopathic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Our approach uses wearable non-invasive neurostimulation designed to reduce blood loss during menstruation. This innovation is supported by over 20 years of research conducted by scientists at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health and more than 7 years of Spark Biomedical technological development and clinical research.”

“Every minute, somewhere in the US, a woman requires a blood transfusion because of her menstruation. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) often involves blood loss so significant that if it was associated with an injury, it would result in a call for an ambulance or a trip to the emergency room. HMB is reported by 1 in 3 women and is more common than asthma or diabetes in reproductive aged women,” said Teri Willey, Managing Director of P2C.

Pathway to Cures is the venture philanthropy fund for the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) focused on investing in emerging biotech companies developing cures, therapies, or enabling technologies in support of the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community. Inheritable blood and bleeding disorders include rare and ultra-rare disorders, hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease, Sickle Cell disease, anemia, clotting disorders, and other hematological disorders, affecting more than 20 million people worldwide.

“We are fortunate to be part of the work of Spark Biomedical and the momentum the Wellcome Leap program provides to this effort to address a critical unmet need in women’s health,” said Dr. Michael Recht, MD, NBDF’s Chief Medical & Scientific Officer.

About Pathway to Cures

Pathway to Cures (P2C) is the venture philanthropy fund of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation created to accelerate the development of cures across all inheritable blood and bleeding disorders. In collaboration with other organizations, P2C invests in innovative therapies and technologies, leveraging the deep resources and scientific community relationships of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. By reinvesting proceeds from investments back into the Fund, P2C will amplify the investment impact, support promising biotech companies, and build a portfolio of investments that further the mission of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation. For more information, visit www.pathwaytocures.org or contact Teri Willey twilley@pathwaytocures.org.

About Spark Biomedical

Spark Biomedical, Inc. is a leading U.S.-based medical device developer, committed to unlocking the potential of bioelectronic medicine and bringing to market novel wearable neurostimulation treatment options in neurological health, women's health, and hemostasis. Spark leverages its neuroscience and engineering expertise to empower healthcare providers and researchers with innovative, evidence-based tools designed to address complex care situations which exceed the capabilities of existing treatment options. Spark has received funding from federal institutions, such as the NIH and DoD, and continues to partner with private and academic institutions. Spark Biomedical is empowering a better way forward for the future of patient care and medical technology. For more information, visit www.sparkbiomedical.com.

About Wellcome Leap

Wellcome Leap builds and executes bold, unconventional programs, funded at scale. Programs that aim to deliver breakthroughs in human health over 5 – 10 years. Founded by the Wellcome Trust in 2020 as a US nonprofit, Leap programs target complex human health challenges with the goal of achieving breakthrough scientific and technological solutions. Operating at the intersection of life sciences and engineering, Leap programs require best-in-class, multi-disciplinary, global teams assembled from universities, companies, and nonprofits working together to solve problems that they cannot solve alone. For more information on Wellcome Leap, please visit www.wellcomeleap.org.

About National Bleeding Disorders Foundation

The National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) is dedicated to finding cures for inheritable blood and bleeding disorders and addressing and preventing these disorders’ complications through research, education, and advocacy, enabling people and families to thrive. Today, NBDF serves people across the United States with all bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet disorders. The foundation also supports a network of 50 chapters across the country. To learn more, visit www.bleeding.org and follow NBDF across social media @nbd_foundation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250820210045/en/