VUMC Limited Submission Opportunity: NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program
These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.
Overview:
VUMC may submit one application to the NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program, established to facilitate and accelerate the translation of academic biomedical discoveries into products that improve patient care and public health. The REACH program will address the problems that hinder the critical, early steps necessary to translate novel scientific advances into commercially viable diagnostics, devices, therapeutics, and tools that improve patient care and improve public health. Applications should accelerate the transition of research discoveries into impactful products that address unmet medical needs.
NIH will provide funds to seed the creation of academic entrepreneurship hubs. Hubs will provide innovators with both the initial investment and resources to support the proof of concept work and the mentorship in product development and commercialization needed to develop high priority technologies that address the highest US disease burden within the NIH’s mission. Hubs may be awarded up to $1 million per year, for up to four years. Funded hubs are intended to work as a consortium to accomplish key program goals.
Each Hub will:
- Be governed by leadership experienced in biomedical product development with a specific focus on bringing biomedical technologies from research institutions to promising products that improve patient care and enhance health.
- Develop the necessary collaborations and partnerships to meet the program goals.
- Provide infrastructure and “know how” for soliciting, evaluating and selecting the most promising technology opportunities predicated on US disease burden medical need, scientific merit, and commercial potential that otherwise would not receive support for early-stage proof-of-concept work.
- Establish processes to review and award funds to individual academic researchers and provide the resources and expertise required for early stage technology development.
- Develop and implement market-focused project management oversight and decision-making processes.
- Provide diverse academic innovators, including students and post-docs, access to skills development, hands-on entrepreneurial experience, educational and networking activities with linkages to local or virtual resources.
- Implement a plan for transitioning to a self-sustaining structure.
Additional considerations:
- Work supported by REACH Hubs may include technical validation, market research, clarifying intellectual property position and strategy, clarifying regulatory or payer requirements, and investigating commercial or business opportunities.
- Hub leadership must possess the necessary operational, business, and scientific expertise with a documented track record of success in transitioning technologies from the discovery phase to products that improve health.
- Applicants are encouraged to focus on building entrepreneurial communities in the areas of highest US burden of disease and disability that historically attract lower levels of private capital investment and otherwise would likely not receive support.
- Establishing public-private partnerships (see FOA for examples) and providing additional non-federal funds will be critical for success.
Internal Application Process:
Anyone interested in being considered as VUMC’s nominee must submit the following to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on Jan. 9. Please combine your materials into a single PDF and reference the program name in the subject line of the email.
- Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page max including budget);
- Statement of support from department chair/center director;
- NIH Biosketch
Note that VUMC’s nominee will need to submit a LOI by Feb. 17.
Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.