Last week, U-M study teams were able to officially re-open enrollment and begin appointment scheduling for participants in two COVID-19 vaccine trials – AstraZeneca and Janssen. Both companies received approval from the FDA to restart in the last week of October.

The Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund has announced two new Investment Advisory Board (IAB) members. The new members are:

The IAB advises on all investment decisions and includes individuals with domain expertise, successful venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and other investors in healthcare and biotech. Members do not have an official U-M appointment or specific ties to existing U-M funding programs.

The FFMI/FCVC Aikens Innovation Academy is currently accepting applications/inquiries for its Winter 2021 course, beginning in February. The Aikens Innovation Academy provides innovation and entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and funding for Frankel Cardiovascular Center faculty, staff, and trainees with any innovation (clinical value or commercial potential) affecting cardiovascular care.

The 2021 course will be virtual. Enrollees will leave with enhanced knowledge of innovation and entrepreneurship concepts, as well as a well-developed pitch for resources. They will also receive mentorship and an opportunity for early-stage development funding. Visit the FCVC Innovation Program page to see past Innovation Academy enrollees.

For researchers planning for Broader Impacts, several U-M units can serve as a "front door" to public engagement, including facilitating projects with K-12 schools, local non-profits, museums, and an array of external partners around the state. This webinar will describe how researchers can leverage campus experts and resources to develop compelling, dynamic, and successful Broader Impacts or public engagement project plans.

Following a temporary suspension of the RFP process because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Joint Institute of the University of Michigan and Peking University Health Science Center has announced the re-activation of its awards cycle.

Projects will be prioritized that demonstrate an effective team approach to discovery, emphasize new findings on diseases relative to both countries, and can be leveraged for extramural funding opportunities.

The Business Engagement Center helps to facilitate partnerships between companies and the university, and our relationships with faculty are essential to the success of this mission. Whether you are new faculty or are a tenured professor who has worked extensively with industry-sponsored research, a greater familiarity with the BEC’s structure and mission can help enrich your understanding of what we do and how we connect with faculty across campus. The session includes an overview and case studies of different industry partnerships and how we adapt and respond to different types of engagements. The webinar can be found in the BEC Faculty Portal, along with other resources for industry engagement.

Through a new strategic partnership, the Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC) and a team of Special Operations veterans are bringing cutting-edge medical research from the lab bench to the point of injury. Much like the military service that preceded them, the team at Precision Trauma have the goal to help save lives at record rates. 

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.