Research, Discovery & Innovation

BWH Health & Technology Innovation Fund

Deadline: December 9, 2024 11:59 pm

Apply Online

Amount: $50,000

IDC Rate: 20%

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Background

Brigham & Women’s Hospital will host its bi-annual Shark Tank to fund innovative and high-risk/high-impact projects in the basic, clinical, digital and translational realms through its Health & Technology Innovation Awards. Sponsored by the Brigham Research Institute (BRI) and the BWH Health & Technology Subcommittee, these awards aim to advance projects that have the potential to make an impact in one or more of the following domains – biomedical research, healthcare delivery, the generation of new companies/products/services, cost savings, care quality and provider burnout.

Supported by the Brigham Research Institute, the BWH Health and Technology Innovation Awards focused on high-risk, high-impact projects across ALL areas of research. Submissions for this track could be basic, clinical, digital and translational projects that have the scientific merit and novelty to significantly advance the progress or research in the field OR have the commercialization potential to be transformed into innovative products/services/companies OR have the potential to impact patient care, cost savings etc. at BWH. Non-renewable grants (up to $50,000) will be awarded on a competitive basis in this cycle.

Process

Applications will be evaluated and ranked for funding priority based on a strategic and scientific/innovation review. Ultimate selection will depend on input from a review committee and recommendations from the BRI Executive Committee (EC). Please note that the selection process will involve review by both BWH faculty (clinicians/researchers) as well as non-BWH reviewers including donors, venture capitalists, representatives of the biopharma/device industry and other friends of the Brigham. The final selection round will be a ’shark tank’ (live pitch session) featuring the finalists and conducted as a closed-door meeting with the review committee in attendance.

RFA Stages Timeline
Letter of intent due Dec 9, 2024
Full applications invited Jan 13, 2025
Full applications due Mar 3, 2025
Finalists notified Mar 10, 2025
Finalists prep session TBD
‘Shark Tank’ (Live pitch session) April 7, 2025, 4-6pm
Funding start date July 1st, 2025
  • Applications will be solicited per the timeline above. The review committee composed of BWH clinicians and researchers, Partners Innovation staff and non-BWH reviewers including donors, venture capitalists, representatives of the biopharma/device industry and other friends of the Brigham will review the letters of intent (LOI) and invite a subset of applicants to submit full applications
  • Following review of the full applications by the review committee, finalists will be invited to the closed-door shark tank/live pitch session which will be the final round of the RFA
  • Following the final round, the review committee will submit their funding recommendations to the BRI Executive Committee for approval.

Eligibility

  • All members of the BWH research community including BWH professional staff (ex. Nurses and other clinicians) and faculty members with instructor rank and above are invited to apply.
    • Administrative staff are invited to apply with a letter of approval/support from a direct or indirect supervisor.
    • Fellows who are proposing an independent project of their own, not just an extension of their mentor’s research, are invited to apply with a letter of support from their mentor attesting to the independence of the work.
  • Individuals may serve as the Principal Investigator (PI) of only one proposal but may be co-PIs on multiple proposals
  • Winners from the previous year are not eligible to apply as PI
  • Principal Investigator MUST be from BWH
  • Collaborations with other departments at BWH as well as other institutions are encouraged especially those that bring together new multi-disciplinary teams encompassing researchers, clinicians, engineers, entrepreneurs etc.
  • Applications seeking seed funding for planned RO1s, PO1s or similar will be eligible as would those seeking funding to establish a core resource for which there is a demonstrated need at BWH. Applications for equipment will not be considered.
  • Finalists MUST be available to participate in both the prep session (see timeline) as well in the shark tank/live pitch session.
  • Recipient (PI of the proposal submitted) must remain with a primary appointment or a full-time employee at BWH for the duration of the award. Award will otherwise be forfeited in a pro-rated fashion.

Review Criteria

  • Projects must address a well-defined scientific/clinical problem or a well-defined diagnostic, therapeutic, device or digital health application
  • Projects must be scientifically meritorious and/or have an innovative approach
  • Novel and/or early-stage ideas that can significantly accelerate research progress or those with high potential for intellectual property/commercialization potential in the stated field will be given high funding priority
  • Projects should be focused and achievable, with a clear strategy and high potential to secure future external funding
  • The short-term and/or long-term impact (scientific, commercial, patient care or cost savings) of the project should be clearly articulated
  • Strength of team – The investigators must have the requisite skills and experience to carry out the project successfully

Reciprocity

  • All recipients will be obligated to respond to periodic surveys from the BRI about outcomes related to this award, and to provide a written report of activity (1-page limit) if requested by the BRI.
  • All recipients will be required to provide an oral status update, if requested, to the BRI Research Oversight Committee and the BWH Health & Technology Sub-Committee at the end of one year of funding.
  • Grantees will notify the BRI when other grants are received as a result of this funding or if papers are published, patents are filed etc. as a result of this funding.
  • Grantees will acknowledge the Brigham Research Institute (BRI) & the BWH Health & Technology Sub-Committee in publications, posters, grants, press releases and other professional recognition resulting from this funding support and will notify the BRI when such events are due to occur. Grantees will also acknowledge funding support from the BRI and the BWH Health & Technology Sub-Committee in all forums if new companies, products or services are established as a result of this funding.

Submission Requirements

Letter of intent (due December 9, 2024) must be submitted electronically at this link.

 

Invited full applications (due March 3, 2025) must be submitted via INSIGHT as a single document in PDF format including the following:

  1. Cover letter with applicant’s name, department and division (if applicable), BWH and HMS professional appointments, telephone number and e-mail address and title of research project to be supported
  2. Project proposal (5-page limit, excluding references):
    • Introduction/Background
    • Specific Aims
    • Significance
    • Experimental details, preliminary data (if any) and contributions of each team member. If it’s a project with commercial potential, please also include a brief, well-researched competitive overview of the marketplace
  3. Future plans i.e. how will this project be funded after this seed grant and how collaborators or IP will be secured or how piloting will be executed
  4. Combined biosketches of Principal Investigator, co-investigators, collaborators and other significant key personnel in NIH format
  5. Detailed budget (use budget template provided) for one year for a maximum of $50,000 direct costs
  6. Copy of human or animal use protocol approval letter (if applicable), indicating that it is current

 

INSIGHT Instructions:

  • Through Insight, please select, at creation, the Internal Award option under Research Management.
  • On the Sponsor Details page, select “Brigham Research Institute (BRI)”.
  • Choose “BRI Health Technology & Innovation Awards” from the drop down menu.
  • Attach the required documents specified above

 

Please note that this is an internal grant and is NOT subjected to the Research Management deadline for external grants.

 

By applying for the BWH Health & Technology Innovation Fund Grants, you agree to release and hold harmless BWH, the Health & Technology Innovation Fund and its subsidiaries, affiliates, societies, advertising and promotion agencies, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such Applicant’s participation in the BWH Health & Technology Innovation Fund Grant competition and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any award or any portion thereof.

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