Is your organization engaged in the discovery or development of a novel product with the potential to help patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? If so, we want to hear from you!
The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation seeks to accelerate the development of products that aim to improve the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Toward that end, the Foundation has launched IBD Ventures, a new program and dedicated funding mechanism to support product-oriented research and development. Companies and academic investigators can apply. Funding up to $500,000 per project per year will be considered. In addition, funded programs will be offered accelerator resources and advising.
Research & development (R&D) projects will be funded to advance the discovery or development of a specific product candidate with potential for positive impact in the IBD field. Funded projects should be approximately 12 months in duration, with specific intermediate and final milestones identified at project onset. Funding up to $500,000 per project per year will be considered, inclusive of all direct and indirect expenses. Indirect expenses may not exceed 10%. Project funding may be extended past the first year if milestones are met. Projects that require lower levels of funding are also welcome. Project cost-sharing, through which Foundation funds would be complemented using additional sources of funding to achieve project goals, is encouraged. The Foundation will not request intellectual property (IP) ownership in funded technologies. In the event that the funded technology becomes commercially successful, the Foundation would receive a financial return (see Appendix C).
In addition to direct funding, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation will provide accelerator resources to support for funded programs. Such support will be tailored to the specific program and may include scientific review; strategic advising; patient and clinician insights; assistance in identifying research resources; facilitation of strategic partnerships (including identification of and referral to specific potential partners); assistance with clinical trial recruitment; presentation opportunities; and consideration for future Foundation funding opportunities. Accelerator support will be provided by Foundation staff, advisors and partners.
Upcoming Letter of Intent deadlines: February 20, 2023; September 2, 2022
The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for this funding if the following criteria are met. Applicants not meeting the specified criteria based on the Letter of Intent (LOI) submitted will not be considered for funding.
• Company. The majority of applicants in this category will be small for-profit biotechnology companies; non-profit organizations meeting the criteria may also apply. This category does not include organizations whose primary mission is education, clinical care and/or basic research (e.g. universities, academic medical centers or basic research institutes). In order to qualify as a company applicant, an organization must meet the following criteria at the time of LOI submission: - Independent organization with a primary focus on product discovery and/or development. - Business plan specifying organization’s mission and projected milestones. - The proposed project must be consistent with the organization's business plan. - Funds must be available for essential company operation during the project period. - Full-time personnel are employed by organization. - Necessary infrastructure is accessible for proposed research activities.
• Academic or research institution. Projects led by investigators at universities, research institutes and medical centers may be proposed. Academic applicants must demonstrate commitment to, and experience with, commercialization-oriented activities, and access to appropriate resources for commercialization. Such resources may include SBIR award(s), intramural accelerator programs, industry-sponsored research, drug discovery core facilities, contract research organizations, entrepreneur-in-residence programs, etc. Basic research programs are not eligible unless described work is directly related to a product discovery/development objective. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the application with relevant institutional officials (e.g. technology transfer officer). Preferably, at least one full-time staff member should be dedicated to the proposed project. Projects associated with invention disclosures, patent applications and/or other IP (e.g., proprietary assays) are preferred.
