• Congratulations 2018 Mi-TRAC Awardees
• Sign Up Today for FFMI fastPACE
• New! Biotech Career Exploration Program 
• U-M GI Innovation Fund RFP Availale
• Latest News from Project Teams Who Received FFMI Funding, Training, and Support
• Funding Opportunity: Traumatic Brain Injury
• In Other News

The University of Michigan MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub recently held its Oversight Committee meeting to determine the 2018  Mi-TRAC mid-stage funding awardees. The Innovation Hub is a statewide program co-managed by FFMI and U-M Tech Transfer that supports translational research projects in life sciences with high commercial potential.

At the meeting, 12 finalists from the University of Michigan, Beaumont, Michigan Tech, and Spectrum Health presented proof-of-concept projects to the Oversight Committee, which is comprised of global biotech business experts and U-M leaders in translational science and tech transfer. The following teams were selected for funding:

Principal Investigator	Proposal Title
Edward Castillo, Ph.D. Beaumont - Radiation Oncology	Detecting Pulmonary Embolism from Non-Contrast Computed Tomography
Alexis Donneys, M.D., M.S. U-M - Plastic Surgery	Smart Software for the Microscopic Video Surveillance System
Mike Holinstat, Ph.D. U-M - Pharmacology	Analogs of ML355 for Inhibition of 12-LOX In Vivo Resulting in Prevention of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis
Jennifer Kaiser, R.N. Spectrum Health - Nursing	Female External Urinary Collection Device ("uCol")
Dan Orringer, M.D. U-M - Neurosurgery	Automated Brain Tumor Diagnosis Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Howard Petty, Ph.D. U-M - Ophthalmology	Improving Ocular Cancer Therapy with Semiconducting Nanoparticles
Jeff Sakamoto, Ph.D. U-M - Mechanical Engineering	Customer Validation and Regulatory Pathway of Nerve Guidance Scaffold Technology
Susan Shore, Ph.D. U-M - Otolaryngology	Reversing Synchronized Circuitry to Treat Tinnitus in Humans
Kathleen Sienko, Ph.D. U-M - Mechanical Engineering	SubQ Assist: Commercialization of a Task-Shifting Device for the Insertion of Subcutaneous Contraceptive Implants
Yoke Khin Yap, Ph.D. Michigan Tech - Physics	Synthesis and Characterization of High-Brightness Red Fluorophores
David Zopf, M.D. U-M - Otolaryngology	FerroForm: Magnetic, 3D Printed Ear Splint to Treat Congenital Ear Deformity

CLICK HERE to read more about the MTRAC for Life Sciences Innovation Hub and this year's awardees.

Questions about Mi-TRAC? Contact Brad Martin, MTRAC for Life Sciences Commercialization Program Director, at [email protected] or 734-936-8577.

Do you have an innovative idea? Are you looking for funding, collaboration, and mentorship? FFMI is launching the 8th cohort of the FFMI fastPACE course on March 16, 2018. To date, 135 project teams have completed this 4-week biomedical commercialization course designed to equip biomedical faculty and researchers with the knowledge and tools to navigate the initial process of commercialization.

During the course, teams work with experienced mentors to share and review projects, provide constructive feedback, and offer peer support. FFMI fastPACE is tailored to accommodate your busy schedule, blending
in-person and online education to help faculty researchers and clinicians prepare a successful business case for funding and development partnerships. 

For more information, visit the FFMI fastPACE website  or email [email protected] . 

Fast Forward Medical Innovation, together with the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR) and the UMMS Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, are offering the Biotech Career Exploration program for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career scientists from life science programs. 

Biotech Career Exploration is designed to educate, train, and provide career exposure to many aspects of biotechnology outside of the traditional academic tenure-track faculty position through panels, workshops, and seminars, as well as an opportunity for extended learning and additional skill building through experiential learning. 

The application deadline is February 19, 2018. CLICK HERE for more information and to apply.

Are you a researcher working in the GI or other
related fields and interested in innovation and commercialization?  

The U-M Fast Forward Gastrointestinal (GI) Innovation Fund is a three-year, $500,000+ fund supported by a donation from entrepreneur alumna Mary Petrovich and matched by the U-M Medical School's Department of Internal Medicine and its Division of Gastroenterology, as well as the College of Engineering, where Ms. Petrovich received her undergraduate degree.

There are two tiers of funding available. Tier I Awards will be in the range of $25K-$50K and fund projects that address a discrete milestone that is critical to the advancement of research to the point of product development. Tier II Awards will be $75K-$100K and fund projects with specific milestones for proof-of-concept and later-stage translational studies (ranges are estimates and actual funding levels will be project-specific).

CLICK HERE for the Tier I Award RFP.

CLICK HERE for the Tier II Award RFP.

Questions? Email Visha Krishnan, FFMI Senior Business Analyst, or call 734-764-2891.

Biomedical startup, Parabricks, recently received $100K in funding from the Monroe-Brown Seed Fund. The company has received previous funding through MTRAC-Transportation. 

Six of the 2018 Mi-TRAC awardees are previous
Mi-Kickstart award winners.

Path of Excellence in Innovation & Entrepreneurship student, Graham Ives, is featured in the latest Student Spotlight on the Path of Excellence web page.

The Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC) will host its 2018 Massey TBI Grand Challenge, thanks to the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation.

The Massey TBI Grand Challenge will fund integrated science teams that can develop and deliver innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). 

Up to $650,000 is available to fund the development of diagnostic, device, therapeutic, or health IT solutions that address the initial "golden hours" of care after severe TBI (generally the first 48 hours). Treatment administered during this critical time frame can determine patient survival and have a significant effect on long-term function and disability.

Massey TBI Grand Challenge Friday, March 2, 2018 8:30am-5:00pm Palmer Commons 4th Floor, Great Lakes North and South CLICK HERE to register

To be considered for funding, you must attend the Grand Challenge event.

For more information and key dates, please visit masseygrandchallenge.com. 

Questions, please contact [email protected]. 

CNN's medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, M.D., and his wife, Rebecca, will team up with U-M to host the Gupta Family Hackathon for Health Communication on March 23-25. The event centers around innovation and is aimed at generating new ideas and tools to improve health communication. It will include more than 200 students and professionals from the worlds of health, digital technology, design, communication, and information science. CLICK HERE to learn more and apply.