The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx®) Tech and Innovation Funnel programs accelerate the commercialization of technologies to more accurately diagnose and treat diseases, improve maternal health outcomes, and screen for cancer.
We are proud to support these programs which have resulted in:
- Over 7,000,000,000 at-home COVID-19 and multiplex tests
- The first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved rapid hepatitis C test
- A more accessible mpox test
- The first at-home test for COVID and influenza A/B to earn FDA De Novo status
- 50+ FDA-approved diagnostic tests and over a dozen new diagnostic technologies receiving emergency use authorization
What Is VentureWell’s Role in RADx®-Style Programs?
We serve as a critical facilitator within the NIH’s RADx® and other Innovation Funnel initiatives by leveraging our network and expertise to identify, assess, select, and contract vendors and professional service consultants across the healthcare space. Our support services provide vital infrastructure and commercialization expertise for RADx® innovators, aiding in the accelerated development and commercialization of home-based or point-of-care diagnostic devices, wearables, and other medical technologies to improve healthcare across the country. We also provide award management support, negotiating, contracting, and managing awards to qualified innovator companies, to help them move closer to commercialization of their diagnostic technologies.
Current Opportunities
New and ongoing projects in our portfolio may have opportunities for commercialization support to funded projects, including opportunities for vendors, consultants, and subject matter experts. View instructions and open opportunities.
Our Portfolio
Cancer Screening Research Network
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Screening Research Network (CSRN) conducts clinical trials and studies focused on cancer screening. Emerging technologies—including multi-cancer detection assays—are rapidly gaining traction for commercial availability. The CSRN is developing a feasibility study to inform the future design of a platform trial to evaluate multiple different technologies for cancer screening in a flexible yet rigorous manner. This study sets the framework for future large-scale clinical trials and other studies developed to assess a variety of cancer screening modalities.
COVID-19 and Other Respiratory Diseases
RADx® Tech is working to accelerate the development of next-generation diagnostic technologies with a focus on performance and accessibility innovations. To improve at-home test accessibility for people with disabilities, RADx® Tech companies are working with manufacturers to address device design, packaging, and modes of instruction, among other challenges. The program provides support for expedited authorization for emergency use, 510(k) approval, and future development of point-of-care and at-home diagnostics.
Visit the POCTRN RADx® Tech sites and read about outcomes of the program at RADx® Tech: Delivering COVID-19 Diagnostic Technologies at Unprecedented Speed and Scale.
Endometriosis
The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx® Tech) Advancing Cures and Therapies and ending ENDOmetriosis diagnostic delays Challenge (ACT ENDO Challenge) is geared toward advancing the development of non-invasive technologies to improve diagnosis of endometriosis. In March 2025, NIH announced four phase two finalists. Winners are expected to be announced in spring 2026.
Hepatitis B Virus
The RADx® Tech Independent Test Assessment Program (ITAP) for Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostics Program aims to accelerate validation, regulatory authorization, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care tests for hepatitis B virus surface antigen detection. HBsAG is the first antigenic marker that appears shortly after a person is infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and is critical to the early detection and diagnosis of the disease. The RADx® Tech ITAP expanded its focus to HBV to increase the availability of high-quality, accurate, and reliable point-of-care HBsAg tests using finger-stick blood samples.
Hepatitis C Virus
In collaboration with the FDA, the NIH RADx® Tech–like program solicited proposals to accelerate the validation, regulatory authorization, and commercialization of innovative point-of-care tests for hepatitis C virus RNA detection and quantitation. Cepheid received marketing authorization for its diagnostic technology supported by this initiative.
HIV Viral Load Detection
To further advance HIV viral load detection technologies, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) solicited proposals to accelerate the validation and prototyping of innovative viral load testing platforms. A number of technologies were selected and supported through the next phase of development and/or commercialization.
HIV Diagnostics
Following the success of the HIV viral load detection program, NIBIB awarded $4 million in funds to three diagnostic developers for a new innovation program. The program is providing support to bring these technologies to a commercial readiness stage for undergoing regulatory review and approval.
Mpox Diagnostics
NIBIB mobilized and expanded the focus of the RADx®-like ITAP to increase availability of high-quality, accurate, and reliable mpox virus diagnostic tests. This program provided in-kind analytical and clinical testing required by the FDA to accelerate test validation and regulatory review of molecular and antigen-based point-of-care or home diagnostic tests and home collection tests. These efforts facilitated rapid production and commercialization of mpox virus assessment healthcare tools in the United States. VentureWell played a key role in the efficient coordination and collaboration of this program. Learn more in our recent blog: “Accelerating Access to Mpox Diagnostic Tests: The Impact of RADx® ITAP.”
Mpox Lesion Panel
The RADx® ITAP for mpox lesion panel aims to expand on the success of the mpox diagnostics program to accelerate regulatory review and availability of high-quality, accurate, and reliable diagnostic tests that would give patients and providers information across a number of lesion-causing diseases, including mpox, herpes simplex 1 and 2, varicella zoster, and T. pallidum.
Maternal Health
The RADx® Tech for Maternal Health Challenge awarded $8 million in cash prizes to accelerate development of technologies to improve maternal health outcomes for those who live in areas lacking access to maternity care. The eight winning teams developed home-based and point-of-care diagnostics, wearables and other accessible technologies to improve postpartum health outcomes during the period when most maternal deaths occur. We provided programmatic support to help expedite funding and support for teams in this challenge-focused program.