WFSA is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of new categories in Blood Health and CLPD for its innovation awards.
Improving Blood Health Through Innovation
This award marks an important step in our continued efforts to support innovative ideas that improve patient care and safety around the world. With this award, we hope to advance blood health including patient blood management – essential components of safe anaesthesia and surgery, and to support practical, scalable solutions that can improve outcomes for patients globally.
Since the launch of the Innovation Awards in 2017, WFSA has supported a number of teams in transforming promising ideas into real-world solutions. Past awardees have developed tools, techniques, and technologies that are now being used around the world.
The new ‘Blood Health’ category will focus on innovations that improve patient outcomes before, during, or after surgery, with particular attention to solutions that can be applied in low-resource settings.
Effective perioperative patient blood management involves addressing anaemia and coagulopathy, reducing unnecessary blood transfusions and improving surgical outcomes This award aims to support new and practical approaches to these critical challenges.
Submit your Innovation
We welcome applications for innovations that are practical, original, and ready to grow. Applicants should already have a basic concept or prototype and be ready to develop it further.
The award package includes:
- $25,000 USD to develop the innovation over two years
- A short film showcasing the innovation for promotional purposes
- Travel support to attend the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA2026) in Marrakech
- Expert guidance and support through WFSA’s global network
The selected innovation will be promoted through WFSA events and platforms, with recognition at WCA2026 and WCA2028. The award offers a valuable opportunity to increase visibility and strengthen the impact of your work.
Blood Health further information document
Application Details
Applications for WFSA Innovation Award in Blood Health will open on 7 July 2025. Individuals and teams from all countries are encouraged to apply.
To apply for an Innovation Award in Blood Health, head to our online application platform and log in. Click on ‘All other WFSA Awards’, select Chapter ‘Innovation Awards’ and Category ‘Blood Health Innovation Awards’.
For further information, please contact Elizabeth Thompson at elizabeth.thompson@wfsahq.org with the subject line ‘Blood Health Innovation Award’.
WFSA is grateful to CSL Vifor for supporting this new award category with an unrestricted educational grant.
Improving CLPD Anaesthesia Through Innovation
This award marks an important step in our continued efforts to support innovative ideas that improve patient care and safety around the world. With this award, we hope to advance anaesthesia care for CLPD – a critical area in paediatric surgical services – and to support practical, scalable solutions that can improve outcomes for patients globally.
Since the launch of the Innovation Awards in 2017, WFSA has supported a number of teams to transform promising ideas into real-world solutions. Past awardees have developed tools, techniques, and technologies that are now being used around the world.
The new ‘CLPD’ category will focus on innovations that improve anaesthesia and perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery, with particular attention to solutions that can be applied in low-resource settings.
Safe anaesthesia for CLPD procedures requires optimised perioperative management, tailored to the specific challenges of this patient population. This award aims to support new and practical approaches to these challenges, and to raise awareness of the need for improved CLPD care worldwide.
Submit your Innovation
We welcome applications for innovations that are practical, original, and ready to grow. Applicants should already have a basic concept or prototype and be ready to develop it further.
The award package includes:
- $25,000 USD to develop the innovation over two years
- A short film showcasing the innovation for promotional purposes
- Travel support to attend the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA2026) in Marrakech
- Expert guidance and support through WFSA and Operation Smile’s global networks
The selected innovation will be promoted through WFSA events and platforms, with recognition at WCA2026 and WCA2028. The award offers a valuable opportunity to increase visibility and strengthen the impact of your work.
CLPD further information document
Application Details
Applications for the WFSA Innovation Award in CLPD will open on 7 July 2025. Individuals and teams from all countries are encouraged to apply.
To apply for an Innovation Award in CLPD, head to our online application platform and log in. Click on ‘All other WFSA Awards’, select Chapter ‘Innovation Awards’ and Category ‘Cleft Lip and Palate Disease (CLPD)’.
For further information, please contact Elizabeth Thompson at elizabeth.thompson@wfsahq.org with the subject line ‘CLPD Innovation Award’.
WFSA is grateful to Operation Smile for supporting this new award category with an unrestricted educational grant.
