In 2022, the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) introduced the CMI Pathways Program. The goal of this program is to strengthen the development of medical innovations at Penn State College of Medicine through a team-based approach that addresses downstream requirements, including intellectual property, regulatory and reimbursement issues, and business case development to facilitate the technology’s transition to the private sector and the formation of startup companies. To support these efforts, the CMI Pathways Program introduced two new funding mechanisms, the Proof of Concept Award and the Innovation Accelerator Award, which are detailed below.
CMI Proof of Concept Funding Program
The objective of the Proof of Concept funding (non-dilutive) is to identify translational research and early-stage technologies that are addressing an unmet medical need to rapidly develop them through a milestone-driven process that will generate data needed to apply for follow on funding opportunities.
Proof of Concept Awards will support applied research. Applications should focus on drug therapeutics, medical devices, digital health technologies, diagnostics that can change the standard of care, and combinations thereof, which promise substantial improvement in human health and commercial potential. Projects that focus on cancer or develop a medical device are encouraged but not required.
Cross-college and/or business collaborations are eligible for this award.
2025 Intent to Submit Deadline: Feb. 7, 2025, by 5 p.m. (EST)
2025 Full Proposal Deadline: March 17, 2025, by 5 p.m. (EST)
Apply for CMI Proof of Concept Funding Program
CMI Innovation Accelerator Award
The objective of this award is to support College of Medicine Primary Investigators accomplish milestone-driven success towards commercialization of an innovative technology. Projects will receive funding and business development support by partnering with the CMI team in advancing the technology through the duration of the award.
Medical innovations considered within project scope include: drug therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics with ability to change standard of care, and digital technologies.
Cross-college and outside university and/or business collaborations are eligible for this award.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Please contact CMI for more information.
PENN STATE INTER-CAMPUS HEALTH AND MEDICINE RESEARCH PROGRAM
The Penn State Inter-Campus Health and Medicine Research Program is a grant program that supports interdisciplinary and inter-campus research projects in health and medicine. It was established to foster collaboration and synergy among researchers from different disciplines and campuses and to leverage the diverse expertise and resources of Penn State in the Hershey and Harrisburg region.
The program aims to fund innovative and impactful research projects that address important health problems and advance the field of biomedical science. The program also seeks to enhance Penn State Harrisburg and College of Medicine’s research capacity and competitiveness and promote the translation of research findings into clinical practice and community health.
2025 Intent to Submit Deadline: TBA
PENN STATE CAPSTONE DESIGN PROGRAM
Senior Engineering and Computer Science students from Penn State Harrisburg, Penn State Behrend and Penn State Berks conduct year-long projects that address existing technical challenges. These projects culminate in presentations at the annual Capstone Design Conference. Each year, Penn State College of Medicine sponsors projects via funding through the Center for Medical Innovation. Past Capstone projects have led to market-ready digital health tools, publications, applications for internal funding mechanisms and invention disclosures.
To make the projects successful, we seek applicants who will be mentors willing to engage in the projects and dedicate 30-60 minutes per week to meet (phone, web or in-person) with students undertaking the project.
Academic Year 2025/2026 applications will be due July 2025.
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Regional Funding Opportunities
Bioadvance provides funding to start-up life science companies in southeastern Pennsylvania through its $20 million Greenhouse Fund. Investments are made in therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and platform technologies focused on human health.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners provides early stage technology funding and business support services to emerging tech-based start-ups and existing manufacturers in a 32-county footprint.
The Fujirebio Germinator Program is provided by BioStrategy Partners, Inc. (BioSP), a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance translational life sciences research and technology transfer within the academic research enterprise, and Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc, a proven pioneer in the diagnostic industry. The Germinator Program is a unique program to facilitate industry-academic collaborations via a customized sponsored research process.
Proposals are invited in one of the following areas: New Protein Biomarkers for Solid Tumors; Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases; and New Assays for Biomarker Detection.
Please See RFP (link below) for more information on the program, dates and diagnostic areas of interest. The initial non-confidential application is a single page (see link below). Selected applicants will then be invited to present to Fujirebio Diagnostics later in the Spring.
2023 Application deadline: send to CMI by Jan. 6, 2023, by 12 midnight (EST)
Life Science Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania is a public/private venture whose mission is to commercialize bio-science technologies. It provides direct early-stage investment, targeted business development services and connections to strategic partners.
Innovation Partnership is a consortium of economic development and business assistance organizations located throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Its goal is to help early-stage technology companies in Pennsylvania secure federal funding opportunities through SBIR/STTR Awards.