The Ivy Foundation Biomedical Innovation Grants was created in 2008 by the Ivy Foundation to support collaborative University of Virginia research projects with the potential to yield leading-edge diagnostics and treatments for a range of human health problems.
The fund seeks to accelerate improved diagnosis and treatment of disease through inventions and patents, commercial products, commercial partnerships, licenses and start-up companies.
In its first four years of funding, the program has awarded a total of $1,015,000 to 22 collaborative University projects, with each project receiving between $20,000 and $80,000. Grants are awarded by a committee composed of corporate researchers and venture capitalists and overseen by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Applications for the next round of funding are due on September 30, 2014.
Click HERE for the current RFP.
Current Projects:
- Developing a Micavibrio Aeruginosavorous as a Living Antibiotic. An antibiotic therapy against a highly drug-resistant bacterium that frequently causes pneumonia in cystic fibrosis patients. (Martin Wu, Biology and Ian J. Glomski, Microbiology)
- Augmenting Erythropoiesis. A therapeutic for stimulating red blood cell production in patients living with anemia. (Dr. Thomas J. Braciale, Pathology/Microbiology)
- A Method to Assay and Block Transfer RNA Fragments. A test for identifying transfer RNA fragments associated with blood, lung, and potentially other cancers. (Dr. Anindya Dutta, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics)
- Pre-Animal Development of a Near Infrared Spectroscopy Device. A device for determining the health of mucosal tissue during major operations and critical illness. (Dr. Robert H. Thiele, Anesthesiology/Biomedical Engineering and Dr. James Isbell, Thoracic Surgery)
Previous Projects:
- Commercialization of a Low-Cost “Point-and-Shoot” Camera for Screening Retinal Photography. An inexpensive camera for use in primary care clinics to screen the retinas of diabetics. (Dr. Paul A. Yates, Ophthalmology)
- Inductively Coupled Implants for Direct Spinal Cord Stimulation. A treatment for medication-resistant chronic pain. (Marcel Utz, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry; George T. Gillies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics; Dr. Matthew A. Howard III, Neurosurgery)
- Novel microRNA-184 Targeting MFTAI in CD4 T-Cell Product for cGVHD Therapy. A stem-cell therapy for complications arising from bone-marrow transplants. (Dr. Mary Laughlin and Dr. Yimin Wu, Hematology/Oncology)
- Gallbladder Extraction Retractor. A retraction device for gallbladder removal during laparoscopic surgery. (Dr. Craig Slingluff, Surgical Oncology; William Guilford, Biomedical Engineering; Dr. Joshua Judge, General Surgery)
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Safety Break Device. A device to reduce occurrences of accidental dislodgement of feeding tubes. (Dr. Laura H. Rosenberger, General Surgery; Dr. Brian J. Williams, Neurosurgery; Phillip A. Brudnicki, Materials Science and Engineering; Alexander S. Germain, Biomedical Engineering; Dr. Robert G. Sawyer, General Surgery)
- Preclinical Testing of a Novel EDO-66 Formulation by Nebulization for Pulmonary Emphysema Therapy. A pharmaceutical for treating cigarette-induced emphysema. (Dr. Yun Michael Shim, Pulmonary and Critical Care; Mikell Palge, Covenant Therapeutics LLC)
via Ivy Foundation Biomedical Innovation Grants | U.Va. Innovation.
