Precision OTC pediatric pain-relief devices and formulations

Young children (2 – 12 yrs) frequently experience pain from teething, minor injuries, mild fever, post-vaccination soreness, headaches, rhinitis-related ENT discomfort, persistent cough and other common ailments. Caregivers typically rely on over the counter (OTC) analgesics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) whose adult-derived formats pose challenges: bitter taste, swallowing difficulty, dosing errors, and parental anxiety over repeat administration or long-term safety.

Growing consumer interest in non-drug or low-dose approaches (wearables, neuro-stimulation, botanical actives, psychological techniques) adds complexity: products must be evidence-based and easy to adopt, yet still affordable and widely accessible. A new generation of child-centric pain-relief solutions—combining formulation science, digital health and human-factors design—can close this gap.

What we're looking for: 

We are looking for innovative, scalable technologies (pharmaceutical, non-pharmacological or hybrid) that deliver safe, effective, and caregiver-friendly pain relief tailored specifically to children. Solutions should be available over the counter (OTC) and improve one or more of: dosing precision, onset time, palatability/acceptance, convenience, safety profile, or caregiver guidance.

Solutions of interest:

• Palatable, low-dose oral formats (e.g., quick-dissolve films, melt-in-mouth tablets, gummies)
• Needle-free transdermal or intranasal delivery systems enabling rapid onset
• Connected “smart-cap” or app-paired dispensers
• Wearable neurostimulation / TENS or thermal devices
• Evidence-based botanical or biomaterial actives (GRAS or equivalent)
• Multimodal combinations (analgesic + antihistamine, analgesic + mild sedative)
• Sensor-integrated patches or bandages that deliver actives and monitor skin
• Lollipop style delivery enabling both soothing and precise micro-dosing of actives
• AI-driven caregiver apps that integrate symptom tracking, dose logs, and HCP escalation triggers
• Gamified VR/AR or biofeedback tools that distract and coach children through acute pain episodes

Must-have requirements are:

• Demonstrated or strongly reasoned pediatric safety
• Path to achieving rapid onset of relief (<10 min) and duration ≥ 6 h
• Acceptable sensory profile for ages 2 – 12 (pleasant taste/texture, non-intimidating form factor)

Please note: Faculty and researchers interested in applying for these opportunities based on technologies developed or disclosed at Vanderbilt must submit their proposals through the CTTC.