APPLICATION OPEN SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024

Pre-Proposal applications for the Call for Proposals for the Health Tech Accelerator Program will open on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. The deadline to submit will be Wednesday, November 6, 2024.  

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Please note: No paper applications will be accepted.

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Information Session

For more information on the Call for Proposals, join Penn Health-Tech for a virtual Information Session on October 16, 2024 at 12noon EST. Use the QR code to register. 

GOAL

The Health Tech Accelerator is a year-long, cohort-based program that is intended to provide support through advising and funding aimed at accelerating the development of innovative health technologies. Support may include technical de-risking (e.g., prototype development, proof of concept, etc.) and/or commercial de-risking (e.g., setting development milestones, clinical strategy, regulatory strategy, reimbursement strategy, etc.) with the goal of attracting further financial support and eventual commercialization and impact.

SCOPE

Submissions across ALL unmet clinical need areas within medical devices and health technologies are encouraged to apply. 

Proposals must be translational in nature, i.e., focused on efforts to translate research results and/or novel ideas into innovative medical devices and health technologies that have potential for commercialization and societal benefit.  Projects that propose to undertake early-stage discovery research will not be considered and may be more suitable for our other funding mechanisms (including our sponsored opportunities such as the NEMO prize and the IDEA prize).

All unmet clinical needs are encouraged to apply, but some areas of special interest are:

1. Connected Health: sensors, AI/ML, software as a medical device
2. Pediatric Devices: diagnose or treat disease and conditions from birth to age 21
3. Surgery: instruments for cardiovascular, neuro, orthopedic, and other procedures

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants for Penn Health-Tech program must be Penn or CHOP faculty or staff. 

Additional individuals may be added as collaborators for the applications. There is no eligibility requirement for collaborators. They are permitted to view, edit, and submit the application. 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE AWARD?

• Funding in the range of $5,000 to $75,000, customized to project needs, with potential for additional funding based on project progression
• Hands-on advising to support development 
• Access to industry experts and complementary programs to assist with engineering and design, manufacturing, regulatory guidance, and reimbursement assessment
• Participation in optional HTA Boot Camp

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process is multi-stage, starting with submission of a pre-proposal. A subset of project teams is then selected as semifinalists and are invited to participate in the Innovation & Commercialization workshop series, which consists of interactive sessions that help each team prepare a competitive full proposal and pitch deck. Teams then submit these full proposals and “pitch” their projects for funding consideration to our panel of experts.

* Dates in 2025 to be communicated in Semifinalist announcement

REVIEW PROCESS

HTA proposals are evaluated on the basis of the team’s expertise and commitment and the project’s (1) potential for impact, (2) potential for commercialization, (3) technical feasibility, and (4) the potential of obtaining further financial investment to bring the proposed solution to the bedside.

Pre-Proposals and Full Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of judges composed of clinicians, investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in industrial R&D, intellectual property and technology transfer.  

Semifinalist notifications will be made within six weeks of the application submission deadline. HTA award notifications will be made by June 2025. Awarded funds are contingent on your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the award.

EXPECTATIONS OF AWARDEES

Penn Health Tech employs a hands-on, active project management style. Funding and advancement are tied to achievement of specific technical and business milestones. Teams should be willing and able to devote the necessary time and resources to their project and be open to receiving mentorship and advice related to the development of their idea towards commercialization.

BUDGET AND USE OF FUNDS

The Health Tech Accelerator (HTA) employs a “stage-gate model” of project management. Accordingly, funding is NOT guaranteed (unlike federal grants). Instead, funding is issued in tranches, with issuance at each tranche subject to achievement of agreed upon milestones.

Penn Health-Tech issues awards through internal funding through the University of Pennsylvania or by providing direct payments for expenses and services. Penn Health-Tech does not issue funding to Penn start-ups. Formal contracts with the University must be in place with approved vendors in order to issue a direct payment to that vendor. 

Funds may be used for salary and fringe benefits for project personnel (other than PI or Co-PIs), materials and supplies, consumable equipment (e.g., components for systems), and costs for human studies (e.g., IRB fees, patient recruitment fees, etc.).  Past funding has also been used for consultation around regulatory, reimbursement, market, and other areas necessary for commercialization.  Funds may NOT be used for salary or fringe for PIs or Co-PIs, tuition, space and renovation, legal or intellectual property fees, or indirect costs.

HTA BOOT CAMP

Penn Health-Tech (PHT) hosts a strategic innovation education program (known as the HTA “Boot Camp”), teaching the basics of commercialization of technologies developed in academic settings, with application to your specific project. The goal of the Boot Camp is to support the development of a high-quality translational proposal and pitch for funding consideration by PHT and other future partners.  

Expectations: Enrollment in the Boot Camp is optional for teams that are invited to submit a full proposal to PHT. However, if teams decide to enroll in the Boot Camp, participation is mandatory, including committing to sending a team representative to each session. 

Student Involvement: This program is also part of a for-credit course for graduate students that is offered in partnership with PHT. PHT teams MAY be assigned a team of students (unless equivalent support is already available) to support your project.  Inclusion of students on your project team is not guaranteed. The first in-person session on 1/22 will include an introduction of your project – students will subsequently be matched with specific project teams by 1/29. Depending on the number of project teams and the number of students participating, it is possible that teams may not be assigned a student.

Time and Location

• A Pre-Course Orientation will occur on Wednesday, January 15th, 4-5 PM, via ZOOM.

• The Boot Camp will run for 10 sessions on Wednesdays, 3:30-6:30 PM, starting January 22nd.
  

  • Sessions are held in-person on the Penn Medicine campus.

More information can be found here.