GAP Community News
The University Gap Funding/Accelerator Weekly update, a resource for those interested in university-affiliated translational research, proof of concept, startup, and venture gap fund/accelerator program
University Gap Funding and Accelerator Community News
Four Cambridge innovations awarded UKRI proof of concept funding
Four cutting-edge University of Cambridge research projects are to receive funding from UKRI to grow into market-leading products and services. A total of 48 projects from across the UK are receiving funding from a new £9 million proof of concept
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Awards $4.7 million to Support Innovations in Stem Cell Research
COLUMBIA, Md., Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission (the Commission) awarded $4,707,142 in grant funding to accelerate the development of innovative stem cell–based therapies. The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF), overseen by the Commission, is an independent program within TEDCO designed
Inside higher ed’s fight to continue groundbreaking research in the face of funding cuts – Fast Company
In the long-established American ecosystem of scientific advancement, fundamental research—not geared toward immediate application—has mostly been conducted at universities with federal funding. The commercial sector, on the other hand, has been more likely to fund more applied research around ideas closer
Stony Brook University awards $1.2M in seed grants to boost early-stage research
The Office for Research and Innovation at Stony Brook University has announced the recipients of its 2025 OVPR Seed Grant Program. In this 11th cycle, a total of $1.2 million was awarded to 22 faculty-led research projects, marking the highest
Rice announces second cohort of Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows
Rice University has named 10 graduate students as recipients of the 2025-26 Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowships, a program created through a partnership between the Rice Sustainability Institute and Chevron. Each fellow receives a $10,000 award to support research advancing scalable energy innovations that
GAP Insights: $1.5M Gift launches Angel Network to fuel Penn State commercialization
A transformative $1.5 million gift from Penn State alumnus Dr. Richard A. Gottscho has set in motion a new era for innovation at the university. The newly-created Nittany Angels network and funding pool will deliver early-stage investment and infrastructure to
Indiana University Unveils IU LAB Lifetech Accelerator
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Plug and Play, the world’s most active global innovation platform and venture capital firm, today officially launched the IU LAB Lifetech Accelerator with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Indianapolis. This landmark event, a collaboration with Indiana University, BioCrossroads, and
UK Creator Fund secures £30m to back university spinouts
Based in Kensington, Creator Fund works with scientists to turn academic research into deep tech startups, with notable examples including Glasgow spinout Chemify and Imperial College London spinout Recycleye. Its latest fund has already raised double the amount from its previous fund from 2022 and
Tulane Ventures invests $250,000 in student-led startup to develop rapid Lyme test
Tulane Ventures, an early-stage investment fund launched by the Tulane University Innovation Institute, has invested $250,000 in Exactics, a biotech startup co-founded by Tulane senior Dylan Murray. The company is developing multiple at-home tests for infectious diseases, starting with a rapid test
Vanderbilt Innovation Catalyst Funds awarded to nine faculty from June 2025 cycle
Vanderbilt University announced nine recipients of the Innovation Catalyst Fund awards for the June 2025 cycle, continuing its mission of accelerating translational research and driving innovative solutions to real-world challenges by providing faculty with crucial pre-seed funding across diverse disciplines. The newly