Kolaleh Eskandanian Email & Phone Number

I am privileged to serve as Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Children’s National Hospital, where I lead Innovation Ventures, the hospital’s commercialization arm, and co-lead the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation as its founding Executive Director. As Principal Investigator of the FDA-funded Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation and the BARDA-funded SPARK Accelerator Hub, I am honored to drive the advancement of pediatric devices and, more recently, leverage this expertise to accelerate pediatric medical countermeasures for public health emergencies. SPARK was selected by BARDA as the nation’s only pediatric-focused accelerator, addressing critical gaps in medical countermeasures. My work involves collaborations with government and industry leaders, patient advocacy groups, academic institutions, and venture capital private equity entities. Initiatives such as the Annual Symposium on Pediatric Device Innovation and the Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!™ competition have collectively supported hundreds of small businesses in delivering transformative healthcare solutions. I’ve also played a key role in integrating JLABS @ Washington, DC and BLUE KNIGHT™ into the Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus, positioning the institution as a global hub for life sciences innovation.With expertise in total product lifecycle (TPLC) management, regulatory pathways, and evidence generation, I’ve advanced over 400 pediatric medical device projects selected from more than 1,000 concepts and applications. These efforts have resulted in 25 FDA or European Union Notified Bodies’ authorizations and eight company acquisitions within the first decade of the consortium.Before joining Children’s National, I held leadership roles with Accenture and Georgetown University, as well as an engineering role with INTELSAT, directing major product launches and implementing systems now used by millions. Over my career, I’ve secured close to $70 million in government funding to establish transformative research enterprises and sustainable programs.I hold a PhD in operations science and an MBA, blending strategic vision with operational expertise. My leadership philosophy focuses on collaboration, sustainability, and patient-centered innovation to address unmet needs in pediatric healthcare. Through my work, I remain committed to inspiring and delivering impactful solutions that improve the lives of children and families worldwide.

Listed skills include Strategy, Program Management, Project Management, Strategic Planning, and 22 others.