Montgomery County Companies in Life Sciences Make National Impact

Potomac-based IGC Pharma and Rockville-based PediaMetrix reach key milestone.

IGC Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Potomac, was recently recognized with a special award for excellence in clean code development as part of the National Institute on Aging’s (NIA) Prepare Challenge. This award highlights IGC Pharma’s innovative work in advancing Alzheimer’s detection and paving the way to better outcomes for patients and families. “Receiving recognition for clean code development reflects our deep commitment to scientific rigor, transparency, and collaboration,” said Ram Mukunda, CEO of IGC Pharma. “By making our AI work both powerful and reusable, we not only contribute to the broader Alzheimer’s research community but also strengthen our own pharmaceutical pipeline. IGC Pharma’s recent achievement is just one of the many examples of how Montgomery County’s life sciences companies continue to thrive.

Last month, Rockville-based digital health company PediaMetrix announced it is the recipient of a $2 million National Institute of Health Commercialization Readiness Program award. The grant will go toward advancing PediaMetrix’s FDA-cleared SoftSpot Total Care Solution, a tool that detects cranial shape abnormalities in pediatric patients. “Securing this NIH CRP funding underscores the transformative potential of our SoftSpot technology and our broader vision for pediatric AI diagnostics,” said Dr. Reza Seifabadi, PediaMetrix co-founder and CEO.  

Montgomery County, Maryland, is home to over 350 life sciences companies working on groundbreaking discoveries, from vaccines and gene and cell therapies to treatments that improve quality of life for many patients. As the anchor of the third largest biopharma hub in the United States and located minutes away from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and many others, Montgomery County not only offers life sciences companies proximity to strategic growth partners, but also access to funding opportunities and a robust talent pipeline.

With connections to world-class research institutions and access to top-tier talent, the county has become an innovation hub that gives life sciences companies the resources they need to grow and create life-changing therapies for millions of people across the world.