DALLAS - November 9, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - Promising health technologies can struggle to move from innovation to real-world care, limiting their potential to improve cardiovascular and brain health. The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, recognized two companies at the Health Tech Competition during Scientific Sessions 2026 with top honors for science, business, audience choice and overall performance.

MedRhythms, Portland, Maine, received the Best Business, Audience Choice and Best Overall awards for its digital health and neurotherapeutics solution that combines sensors, software and music to help people improve walking and mobility after stroke or other neurological injury or disease.

Vascudyne, St. Paul, Minn., received the Best Science award for its bioengineered blood vessel technology being developed to provide alternatives to harvesting a patient’s leg vein for coronary bypass surgery and to create grafts for children with congenital heart defects that have the potential to grow with them.

Hosted by the American Heart Association Center for Health Technology & Innovation, this year’s competition received a record number of submissions from health technology companies around the world. Following a rigorous multi-stage review by American Heart Association volunteer experts across healthcare, science and industry, five finalists were selected for their potential to improve how cardiovascular and brain health conditions are prevented, diagnosed and treated.

“The Health Tech Competition gives us a close look at technologies designed around real challenges facing patients and clinicians,” said Lee Shapiro, JD, chairman of the board of the American Heart Association and managing partner of 7wire Ventures. “This year’s winners demonstrated the attributes essential to advancing health technology: strong scientific evidence, meaningful business potential and innovative ways to address the challenges of those in need.”

The other finalists were:

  • HEARTio, Pittsburgh, Pa. - HEARTio is developing investigational AI software that analyzes a standard ECG to estimate obstructive coronary artery disease, the leading cause of heart attacks, without dyes, radiation, incisions or catheters.
  • MEGI, Chicago, Ill. - MEGI is an AI-powered digital health platform focused on women's heart health, maternal care and hypertension (high blood pressure) management.
  • Seerlinq, Bratislava, Slovakia - Seerlinq estimates cardiac filling pressure non-invasively from a short fingertip PPG measurement at home, catching deterioration in heart failure patients weeks before hospitalization and giving clinicians time to adjust therapy.

Best Business, Audience Choice and Best Overall

MedRhythms, based in Portland, Maine, is addressing walking problems after stroke with an at-home, prescription therapy that uses precisely timed music cues to help retrain walking. Foot-worn sensors track the patient’s walking, while software adjusts the music’s rhythm to the person’s movement. The personalized cues are designed to guide steps and support walking practice, with the goal of improving walking speed and quality.

“Millions of people are living with walking difficulties after stroke, yet many have limited access to effective rehabilitation once they leave the clinic. Our solution brings a personalized, music-based therapy into the home, using foot sensors and tailored rhythmic cues to improve walking and ambulation,” said Brian Harris, founder and chief executive officer of MedRhythms. “This recognition helps raise awareness of the need stroke patients face and supports broader access for patients who could benefit from these therapies.”

Best Science

Vascudyne, based in St. Paul, Minn., is developing ready-to-use blood vessel grafts for heart surgery. The grafts are intended to reduce the need to harvest a vein from a patient’s leg for bypass surgery, and for children with congenital heart defects, provide a conduit designed to grow with them. The company uses human donor cells to grow tissue, before removing the cells and leaving behind a collagen framework. Following implantation, the technology is designed to allow the patient’s own cells to populate the framework.

“Heart surgeons have always had to choose between living tissue harvested from the patient and off-the-shelf materials that can’t heal or grow,” said Zeeshan Syedain, PhD, chief executive officer and co-inventor of Vascudyne. “Our bioengineered vessel is both, ready on the shelf and designed to become the patient’s own living tissue. For adults, that could mean bypass surgery without harvesting a leg vein; for children with congenital heart defects, an implant that grows with them. Winning the Best Science award is a meaningful recognition of the science behind it as we advance our clinical trials.”

A panel of American Heart Association volunteer judges reviewed the finalists’ business and science live presentations in the Health Innovation Pavilion during the two-day competition. Judges included experts from cardiovascular medicine, digital health, health technology, research, investment and innovation.

Finalist presentations took place Nov. 7-8 at McCormick Place in Chicago during Scientific Sessions 2026, the American Heart Association’s flagship global event for the latest research and clinical advancements in cardiovascular science.

To learn more about the Health Tech Competition, visit ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2026. Selection as a finalist or winner does not constitute an endorsement, certification or validation of a company, product, clinical claim or commercial offering by the American Heart Association.

Additional Resources: 

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Monica Sales: monica.sales@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

heart.org and stroke.org

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