The Institute for Precision Medicine (IPM) and sciVelo of the Innovation Institute are soliciting proposals for commercial translation project funding. The IPM facilitates the movement of biomedical research into clinical care. PreMIC focuses specifically on driving translational research projects towards both clinical and commercial application through new company formation, licensing to industry partners, or direct implementation into clinical care by health systems such as UPMC. The goal of PreMIC is to drive precision medicine technologies out of Pitt research laboratories and into new companies or clinical practice to improve human health and spur economic development in the Pittsburgh region.
This RFP is aimed at mid-to-late stage commercial translation projects. To be considered for funding, a proposed project should meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Validated unmet clinical need
- Technological proof-of-concept
- A maturing commercial translation plan*
- Invention disclosure(s) submitted to the Innovation Institute**
*sciVelo can help project teams with developing/refining their commercial translation roadmaps, prior to proposal submission.
**Project teams should have filed an invention disclosure(s) covering their proposed technology with the Innovation Institute or be willing to work with the sciVelo team to finalize an invention disclosure for submission to the Innovation Institute.
Desirable outcomes for funded projects at the end of the funding cycle are:
- Readiness for spinning-out into a new company and pursuing follow-on commercial funding
- Transition to industry partners for further development via technology licensing
- Transition directly to clinical practice via technology licensing
This funding opportunity is made possible by funding from the RK Mellon foundation.
The deadline for application submission is December 1st, 2019.
For more information including proposal format please contact vganesan@scivelo.pitt.edu.