Award duration and amount: one year, up to $70,000 for stipend, benefits (and tuition in the case of student trainees)
Fellowships to start in the summer (after July 1) or fall of 2019
Deadline to apply is January 21, 2019
Recipients will be notified in March, 2019
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Innovation through Collaboration
The University of Minnesota announces this year's commercialization-focused trainee fellowship program in Neuromodulation, the 2019-2020 Discoveries through Industry Partnerships award. Awards are funded by the Brain Conditions core area of the MnDRIVE (Minnesota Discovery, Research and InnoVation Economy) initiative. Fellowships will be awarded to an outstanding individual trainee or trainee team that has a translational and neuromodulation-focused research topic with high commercial potential and a strong collaboration with an industry partner. This funding is intended to equip trainees with unique ‘seed’ funds and foster University-industry collaborations that seek to deliver neuromodulation discoveries and innovations with high commercial potential.
Neuromodulation is a transdisciplinary field focused on treating neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders with technological interventions at an appropriate neural interface that provides a therapeutic response and is non-destructive, reversible, and adjustable. Neuromodulation research integrates basic science, engineering, and clinical disciplines to yield new insights into brain function and develop therapeutic innovations that include electrical, magnetic, optogenetic, and ultrasound technologies. Bringing such innovations to patients leverages different researcher skill sets and partnerships that are essential to accomplish the “Bench to Bedside” goal.
Academic-industry partnerships have been essential building blocks for the commercial medical device and drug therapies industry. Many such innovations are very historic between the University of Minnesota and what is now the surrounding Medical Alley health technology industry (https://www.medicalalley.org/). As traditional funding climates change, the ability to foster strong relations between the University and Industry partners becomes more important to the future of medical research and innovation. Trainees able to identify translational research questions and successfully partner with industry will be uniquely prepared to advance neuromodulation therapies for brain conditions. This fellowship is intended provide trainees with a valuable opportunity to develop their career and skills, and strengthen industry investment in the expertise and resources the University and MnDRIVE have to offer in bringing neuromodulation therapies to patients in need.
MnDRIVE MnDRIVE is a landmark partnership between the University and the state of Minnesota. Discoveries and treatments for brain conditions, a MnDRIVE core area of research and partnership, addresses complex and debilitating brain-related disorders by leveraging university and state investments in medicine and engineering and extending our vibrant partnerships with medical device industries in Minnesota. For more information about the MnDRIVE core area of Discoveries and treatments for brain conditions, go to: https://mndrive.umn.edu/brain. For more information on MnDRIVE please visit: https://mndrive.umn.edu/. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION We seek outstanding trainees* (masters/PhD students, Postdoctoral fellows, Medical Residents, Clinical Fellows, Medical Device Innovation fellows) or trainee teams who will work collaboratively with an industry partner on a neuromodulation-related project with high commercial potential. Selection will be based on the strength of the applicant’s academic records and work history, relevance of the proposed research to neuromodulation, evidence of past productivity in research or industry, alignment of the training experience with the goals of the MnDRIVE initiative, project quality, commercialization potential, and strength of the industry partnership.
Trainees must be affiliated with the University of Minnesota and mentored by a University of Minnesota faculty for the duration of the award period.
The University of Minnesota is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
There are three parts to the application, all must be completed no later than January 21, 2019.
Part 1. Online fellowship application form (https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ebbuIhR5nq1E17L). Applicant should complete this online fellowship application form no later than January 21, 2019. The application form will request that the applicant provide contact information for themselves and their University of Minnesota mentor and LOS writers, and then upload a single PDF containing items 1-12 below (with font no smaller than 11 pt and 0.5 in margins):
1. A PROJECT COVER SHEET with the following:
- Project title
- Abstract (limit - 250 words)
- Statement of Project significance. Please provide a general statement of the project's significance - 1 to 4 sentences in language appropriate for the general public, for example: Dr. Smith's patient-centered research will lead to improved treatment for the critical motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.
- Statement of the potential of the fellowship experience and deliverables to contribute to the health and quality of life of the citizens of MINNESOTA and/or the economic vitality of the state - 1 to 4 sentences, use language that is appropriate for the general public.
- Names and contact information of the two individuals who will write LETTERS of SUPPORT on behalf of the applicant.
2. TRAINING EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE (limit = 1.5 pages) that:
- Succinctly describes the research project and rationale
- Describes the applicant's role in the project
- Tells how the project will advance the field of neuromodulation
- Tells how the project and training align with MnDRIVE goals
- Explains how obtaining this fellowship will benefit the applicants career aspirations.
- Indicates whether IRB or IACUC approval is required, and the current status of the approval (e.g., approval granted, IRB protocol submitted but not yet approved, IRB protocol not yet submitted for approval, etc.).
3. Applicants previously awarded a MnDRIVE Fellowship should also include an additional brief SUMMARY OF PROGRESS & SUCCESS TO DATE on their MnDRIVE fellowship (up to 1/2 page), and indicate whether the current application represents a new project, or continuation of the previous project.
4. OPTIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for TRAINING EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE. The applicant may submit the following OPTIONAL information: One image containing up to two graphs or diagrams to support the TRAINING EXPERIENCE NARRATIVE (no more than 1/2 page) and/or one page of bibliographic references.
5. INDUSTRY PARTNER: Identify the industry partner and clearly describe the nature of the collaboration on the project, the collaborator's role and expected specific contributions to the project (limit = 1/2 page).
6. COMMERCIALIZATION POTENTIAL: Discuss the commercial potential for the project. Applicants should: Describe their minimum viable product Identify their customer segments State the value proposition Applicants should include a description of any specific research they have done, or evidence they have gathered that supports the assertion the project has high commercial potential (e.g., customer validation interviews with physicians at the U or in the community, other market analysis, etc.) (limit = 1 page).
7. THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION(S) and CLINICAL OUTCOMES MEASURES. Provide a succinct description of the therapeutic application and clinical pathway for the work described in the Training Experience Narrative. Include the potential clinical outcomes that are thought to be achievable, how the therapeutic impact will be measured, and the basis for their assertion that these are reasonable outcomes and measures (research, interviews with clinicians, etc.) (limit = 1/2 page).
8. PATHWAY to COMMERCIALIZATION: Describe how the project deliverables fit into a pathway to commercialization for a neuromodulation-related product or patient therapy, and explain whether and how the work of the fellowship period will be shepherded through the next steps. The answer to this question should demonstrate that the applicant can see a reasonable path to commercialization, that work done in the fellowship period is necessary to the commercialization of a neuromodulation-product or therapy, and that there is a commitment to advancing the work completed in the fellowship period. (limit = 3/4 page).
9. TIMELINE with KEY MILESTONES and DELIVERABLE(S): Applicants should provide a TRAINING EXPERIENCE TIMELINE with KEY MILESTONES in the award period, and, in 1 or 2 sentences, clearly state the TRAINING EXPERIENCE DELIVERABLE(S) expected at the end of the award period (limit = 1/2 page). If IRB or other approvals are needed, indicate the anticipated dates for obtaining those approvals.
10. RESEARCH SUPPORT additional to fellowship (limit 1/2 page): Applicants should
- Identify the department/center that will serve as their "research home"
- Describe the relevant research support the research home will provide, including laboratory space, equipment, facilities and other physical resources they need to they will need to successfully complete their research
- Describe the research support provided by the industry partner
11.TEAM DESCRIPTION (limit 3/4 page): Applicants who are part of a TEAM of two or more people who will share in the financial award of the fellowship should
- Describe the rationale for why more than one person should share the fellowship
- Identifie the other team members who will share in the fellowship award
- Describe the roles and contributions of each team member will make to the project/deliverables
- Indicate the proportion of effort each person on the team will contribute during the award period, and the total dollar amounts requested for their support in the award
PART 2. LETTERS OF SUPPORT from two professional references. Applicant should arrange for a LETTERS OF SUPPORT to be submitted by each of two references who can comment on the applicant’s qualifications to contribute to the project (each letter should be no longer than 2 pages). One letter should come from the industry partner, and the other from a professional reference who is not the academic mentor. Letter writers should submit letters by email to [email protected] no later than January 21, 2019.
Part 3. LETTER OF CONFIRMATION from U of M faculty mentor. The U of M faculty mentor should send a LETTER OF CONFIRMATION that identifies the applicant, states the project title and confirms that he or she will mentor the applicant during the award period should the applicant receive a fellowship (Letter of Confirmation should be no longer than 1/2 page). U of M faculty mentor should submit letter by email to [email protected] no later than January 21, 2019.
