I-RED ASCEND2.0 2024 Call for Proposals

The goal of I-RED ASCEND2.0 is to bridge the gap between NIH-funded research and improved patient outcomes by increasing the number of biomedical entrepreneurs and their level of competency. In this vein, I-RED ASCEND2.0 aims to provide the knowledge, skills, and training necessary for innovators to become successful entrepreneurs.

ASCEND2.0 seeks pilot proposals to support the advancement of new biomedical innovations with significant straightforward commercial potential to improve healthcare.

Criteria for Consideration

  • The applicant is associated with an academic institution in the western IDeA states.
  • The biomedical innovation proposed can become a product that has the potential to improve healthcare.
  • The biomedical innovation has been disclosed to the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at the applicant’s institution.
  • Working with their TTO, the applicant has developed an intellectual property and technology protection strategy.
  • If vertebrate animals or human subjects research is part of the proposal, existing approvals must be included at the time of the application submission.

Expectations and Requirements of Awardees

  • Projects selected for funding will be required to provide milestones and progress metrics to ensure the project's steady progress. These updates will be provided via a 30-minute zoom call every month during the funding period.
  • Awardees are required to participate in the educational material provided by ASCEND2.0 and at the end of the award period provide feedback on its utility and value.
  • An end goal of submitting an SBIR or STTR following the completion of research funding is desirable.
  • A Progress Report meeting will be held approximately six months after the project's start date. Awardees will report their final findings and challenges and receive continued input and advice from the ASCEND2.0 Advisory Committee after the research funding period.

Proposal Considerations

  • Award amounts should not exceed $30,000 in total costs (including as an option, up to 10% indirect costs, some institutions are waving indirect for these awards)
  • A maximum of 10 pilots will be awarded.
  • Matching funds are allowed. Matching funds cannot come directly from a Federal Grant or Contract (NIH, NSF, DoD, etc.). The source of matching funds must be noted in the budget justification and a letter of support must be provided from the funding source. Matching funds from the participating institutions are encouraged but not required as part of the submission.
  • The project period should not exceed 6 months.
  • Funds must be applied to specific tasks that advance the innovative technology towards a commercial application and cannot be used for equipment.
  • Funds for research staff/students (not PI effort), supplies, and research materials are allowed as funding components from the I-RED ASCEND2.0 award.
  • Confidential information should not be included in the application.

Scoring Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by the ASCEND2.0 External Advisory Committee (EAC) and ranked based on the following criteria:

  • Scientific Rigor
  • Feasibility (scientific and commercial)
  • Impact
  • Commercial potential and path (next steps of commercialization)
  • How the technology meets SBIR/STTR grant application criteria
  • Clearly articulated timeline and research plan
  • Expected benefits of participating in the educational and mentoring programs of ASCEND

ASCEND2.0 Application and Review Timeline

  • August 15, 2024: Call for Applications
  • September 16, 2024: Deadline to submit a complete application.
  • September 16 - October 15, 2024: Application Review
  • October 15, 2024: Application review complete; awardees will be notified.

For questions or additional details:

Contact:

John J. Chavez, ASCEND contact PI
jchavez@nmsuf.com 



ASCEND 2.0 2024-2025 Proposal Guidelines

The full application should include:

Cover Letter (1-page limit)

  1. Application Title
  2. Project summary (to include scientific goals to advance the technology, commercialization plan, as well as benefits for the applicant of ASCEND2.0 participation in terms of personal growth in entrepreneurship)
  3. Impact statement

Research Strategy (2-page limit)

  1. Significance
    1. Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress that the proposed project addresses.
    2. Describe the strengths and weaknesses in the rigor of the prior research (both published and unpublished) that serves as the key support for the proposed project.
    3. Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
  2. Innovation
    1. Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
    2. Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
    3. Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
  3. Scientific Approach
    1. Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to accomplish the project's specific aims. Describe plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project. Describe the experimental design, methods proposed, and how they will achieve robust and unbiased results.
    2. Discuss benchmarks for success, potential problems, and alternative strategies anticipated in achieving the aims.
    3. If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility and address the management of any high-risk aspects of the proposed work.
  4. Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Goals
    1. Discuss the current commercialization state of the technology
    2. Discuss the next steps needed to advance the technology
    3. Describe the applicant’s goals in becoming more familiar with entrepreneurship and commercialization and how the education and mentoring of ASCEND2.0 will advance these goals.

Budget/Budget Justification (1-page limit)

  1. Name of organization where the experiments will take place
  2. Budget Period (6 months)
  3. Total funds needed
  4. Estimated costs and justifications for costs
    1. Include quotes where appropriate
  5. Matching funds (optional) and source

Key Personnel Biosketches

Letters of Support (No page limit)

  • One letter of support can be provided. 

References (No page limit)

  1. When citing articles that fall under the Public Access Policy, that were authored or co-authored by the applicant, and arose from NIH support, provide the NIH Manuscript Submission reference number (e.g., NIHMS97531) or the PubMed Central (PMC) ID number (e.g., PMCID234567) for each article.
  2. Citations not covered by the Public Access Policy but are publicly available in a free, online format may include URLs or PubMed ID (PMID) numbers along with the full reference. The references should be limited to relevant and current literature.

Format

  • Consolidate the application into a single PDF file adhering to the following guidelines:
    • Single spaced
    • ½” margins
    • 11-point Arial font

 

For any questions, please email sofia@nmsuf.com