• Mcubed 3.0 Launched!
• Join FFMI at the Translational Funding Fair on October 18
• Cheers to the Latest Mi-Kickstart Awardees
• FFMI fastPACE Course in Full Swing
• FFMI Train-the-Trainer Program
• Introducing Our Newest Staff Member

Learn more at Mcubed Biomedical Brainstorming Events

Mcubed promotes cross-campus collaboration, but it can be a challenge to develop just the right project concept and then connect with colleagues from other schools or units. 

You're invited to join the Fast Forward Medical Innovation team for two interactive brainstorming sessions that will help you prepare for a successful round of "cubing" with colleagues across campus.

Thursday, November 1 9:00am-10:30am NCRC Building 10 Research Auditorium

Thursday, November 8 3:00pm-4:30pm BSRB, Kahn Auditorium

Questions about Mcubed 3.0? Contact Brad Martin, Ph.D., Senior Director of Commercialization Programs, U-M Medical School Mcubed Liaison, at [email protected] or (734) 936-8577.

FFMI is excited to be part of a translational funding fair that will be held on Wednesday, October 17, from 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Michigan League, prior to the Office of Technology Transfer's annual Celebrate Invention event. The FFMI team will be there to talk about the groundbreaking funding programs and opportunities we offer to biomedical researchers at the University of Michigan and across the state. 

Fast Forward Medical Innovation is accepting proposals for the Mi-Kickstart early-stage funding program. 

Mi-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 aimed 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 Mi-TRAC or other research funding programs.

The new Mi-Kickstart teams are:

Joseph Holoshitz, M.D., Professor, Rheumatology

University of Michigan

"Preclinical Studies of a Small Bone Damage-Preventive Lead HL840"

Erik Shapiro, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Radiology

Michigan State University

"Affinity Magnetic Particles for Imaging Cells by Magnetic Resonance Imaging"

Matthew Sims, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Infectious Disease Research

Beaumont

"Validation of a Biomarker Panel to Predict the Risk of Developing Recurrent MRSA Skin Infections"

Benjamin Viglianti, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Radiology

University of Michigan

"Development of a Fluorinated NP-59 Analogue for Adrenal Imaging"

On Friday, September 21, Fast Forward Medical Innovation kicked off the 9th cohort of the FFMI fastPACE course with 15 teams. The course is designed to provide the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the initial process of innovation and commercialization. Teams work with experienced mentors to share and review projects, provide constructive feedback, and offer peer support.

Questions? Visit the FFMI fastPACE website or email [email protected].

FFMI works in close partnership with U-M's CTSA organization, Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research, to support educational programs for all learners on the commercialization of biomedical research and innovation.

In parallel to the recent FFMI fastPACE course launch, FFMI welcomed participating CTSA organizations from 10 institutions across the United States for the third FFMI Train-the-Trainer program, where attendees learn how to launch the FFMI fastPACE course at their home institutions. 

Participating institutions included:

• BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting
• UNC Chapel Hill
• University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• University of California, San Diego
• University of Florida
• University of Kansas
• University of New Mexico
• University of Pittsburgh, sciVelo Innovation Institute
• University of South California, SC CTSI

Questions? Visit the FFMI fastPACE Train-the-Trainer website or email [email protected]. 

The FFMI team is excited to introduce Meghan Cuddihy, our new Commercialization Education Project Manager. Meghan will be supporting the Aikens Innovation Academy - a collaborative program between Fast Forward Medical Innovation and the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. This exciting new program was made possible by a generous donation from the Aikens family.

Meghan comes to us after four years of working as a customer discovery consultant for early-stage companies focused on cell purification, wearable devices, and circulating tumor cells/single cell analysis. Also during this time, she worked at Aquaro Histology where she helped build the team and advance the company, including working on customer discovery, maintaining key opinion leader relationships, and building the brand.  Prior to that position, Meghan was the Marketing Director for 3D Biomatrix, which developed a three-dimensional cell culture tool. 

Meghan has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Welcome, Meghan!