Have a hot concept in the realm of biomedical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, or digital health/IT that would be a great candidate for commercialization?

MTRAC Awards are part of the MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub. Made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and co-managed by Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) and the U-M Office of Technology Transfer, the awards provide mid-stage, translational research funding and resources for proof-of-concept and late-stage translational studies with a high potential for commercial success.

Innovators from all schools at the University of Michigan, other institutions of higher education, non-profit research centers, and hospital systems across Michigan are eligible to submit projects for funding consideration. MTRAC Awards provide one year of funding up to $150K per project, with cost-sharing required.

Questions? Contact Bradley Martin, Ph.D., Director, Fast Forward Medical Innovation, at bradmart@umich.edu.

FFMI is currently accepting proposals for the next round of Kickstart applications, due Monday, August 2, 2021.

Kickstart awards, made possible by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub, the U-M Medical School Office of Research, and the Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, offer early-stage funding to biomedical researchers across the state of Michigan. This award is designed to enhance the commercial potential of a technology owned by any Michigan-based non-profit to the point of demonstration of utility and possible inclusion in MTRAC or other research funding programs.

Looking for feedback and input on your biomedical innovation? Join the FFMI team for Innovation Studio, virtual office hours that give life science innovators of all levels the chance to address project needs, challenges, or questions. Participants can get individual feedback on:

The Innovation Studio is available for 30-minute consultations via Zoom every third Tuesday of the month. The next available consultations will take place Tuesday, August 17, between 2:00pm-3:30pm. Space is limited.

A new technique developed by U-M's Jun Hee Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, uses high-throughput sequencing, instead of a microscope, to obtain ultra-high-resolution images of gene expression from a tissue slide. The technology, which they call Seq-Scope, enables a researcher to see every gene expressed, as well as single cells and structures within those cells, at incredibly high resolution: 0.6 micrometers or 66 times smaller than a human hair—beating current methods by multiple orders of magnitude.

Cures Within Reach is offering three RFPs in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. At least three grants will be awarded for clinical repurposing trials:

Would you like help getting a new research project started or expediting a current project? Do you want to gain experience mentoring undergraduates? In September, we will have over 1,300 UROP students eager to get involved in research. Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and advanced graduate students are eligible to be UROP research mentors.

UROP is now accepting research project submissions for the next academic year. Mentoring an undergraduate in research can help you shape the future of your discipline and attract new researchers to your field. UROP is here to help you do that in a structured way. 

The Pilot/Feasibility (P/F) Grant Program and the Diabetes Interdisciplinary Studies Program (DISP) are sponsored by the Michigan Diabetes Research Center (MDRC). Their purpose is to promote research in diabetes by new and established investigators at the University of Michigan.

Grant proposals may be in the areas of basic biomedical or clinical research and should address key questions regarding the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diabetes, its complications, or related endocrine or metabolic disorders (for example: obesity, metabolic syndrome, counter-regulatory proteins).

To better navigate the complexities of the U-M biomedical research enterprise, visit the Research Project Lifecycle. This interactive tool provides an overview of the resources available to you, not only within the Medical School Office of Research but also across the University of Michigan.