Researchers working in orphan indications, drug delivery devices, big data and other key areas invited to submit a brief Statement of Interest

The MaRS Innovation Industry Access Program (MI-IAP) is a simple, formalized process for marketing early-stage technologies to MI’s industry partners: Baxter, LifeLabs (formerly CML Healthcare), GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Merck.

The program’s goal is to secure funding for researchers within MI’s membership through these collaborative, strategic R&D partnership programs.

First run in November 2013, the MI-IAP allows researchers to easily determine whether an industry partner is interested in co-developing their technologies. The application process is deliberately brief at the outset.

“Last fall, we received 28 statements of interest, 12 of which we invited to submit a non-confidential summary package,” said Ben Rogers, director, Technology Transfer & Scouting. “Of these, six have been invited for a technology presentation with an industry partner. We’d like to see all of those numbers grow during this application round.”

The program will also make it easier for researchers to find prospective industry partners.

“Many granting programs require an industry partner, but leave finding that partner to the researcher,” says Parimal Nathwani, vice-president of life sciences at MI. “Our Industrial Access Program completes that step for them. We also know researchers within our member institutions are incredibly busy, which is why we’ve adopted a streamlined process to save them time.”

The program is open to any researcher affiliated with MI’s 16 member institutions working on technologies in:

• Orphan indications
• Colon (cancer, IBD, microbiome)
• Drug delivery devices (inhalers, intravenous, non-needle/transdermal)
• Infectious disease (detection, prevention and treatment)
• Modeling and visualization of Big Data
• Hospital information systems, analytics and EMR

The recommended budget range is $50,000 to $200,000.

For more information, see the MI-IAP information page.

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, director, marketing and communications.