Stanford University and SRI International have begun a collaboration named MISTRAL (Multidisplinary Initiative for Surgical Technology Research and Advanced Laboratory) to accelerate medical device development, particularly for pediatric medical products, trauma care, telemedicine, and endoscopy.  The idea is not only to devise new more-effective, less-expensive devices, but to bring them to market through venture capital-philanthropic investment, such as the Pediatric Device Fund.   MORE