The Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), now known as Virginia Catalyst, is now accepting applications for the ninth round of its grant program. Virginia Catalyst funds help fund the development and commercialization of life science projects that address major unmet needs for improving human health, along with creating jobs and economic activity. Virginia Catalyst awards these funds to help accelerate translational research in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The awards, which range from $200,000 to $800,000, help fund collaborative efforts between industry and Virginia research universities with the goal of:
- Funding innovative, collaborative, translational research projects that elevate the level of sponsored research at Virginia’s universities and have the potential to significantly improve human health and create high value jobs in the Commonwealth
- Accelerating commercialization of Virginia research university inventions and discoveries and to achieve competitive critical mass through robust collaborations of Virginia research universities and industry
Letters of intent (LOI) must be received by November 15, 2018 at 5:00 PM EST. Projects that meet funding criteria will be invited to submit a full application. Awards will be announced in March 2019. The LOI submission form and application template, as well as grant criteria, are available on the Virginia Catalyst web site (www.virginiacatalyst.org).
“Virginia’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to inspire our work,” said Mike Grisham, CEO, Virginia Catalyst. “Through the first eight funding rounds, Virginia Catalyst has seen companies and research institutions work together to create high-paying jobs that boost Virginia’s overall economy. These funds help bolster Virginia’s life sciences sector while also developing technologies that tangibly improve citizens’ lives. We look forward to supporting our research investigators and entrepreneurs in achieving milestones that will result in follow-on funding and build sustainable businesses.”
Eligibility requirements
- At least two of the Virginia Catalyst universities (EVMS, GMU, ODU, UVA, VCU, VT, W&M) and one industry partner must be in a substantive collaboration.
- Have matching funding for the project, beginning with a minimum 1:1 commitment and rising to up to a 6:1 desired level for larger projects. The match must be a cash dollar for dollar match, not in-kind services or a waiver of indirect overhead charges. Federal, philanthropic and state grants can count toward the match if acceptable to the granting agency, if these other grant funds have not been spent previously, and if the funds relate closely to the Virginia Catalyst grant proposal elements. A participating university’s funds, in-kind services, and waivers of indirect overhead charges can be contributed to the project, but they will not be counted towards the required matching funding. Matching funds must be verified.
Round 9 dates
- November 15, 2018: Deadline to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) for consideration in Grant Round 9
- December 6, 2018: Invitations to submit a full proposal sent to applicant teams
- January 10, 2019 5:00 PM EST: Deadline to submit full application for Round 9
- January 23, 2019: Invitation of applicant teams to present to Project Management Oversight Panel
- Week of February 4, 2019: Presentations to Project Management Oversight Panel
- March 2019: Announcement of Grant Round 9 Awardees
Filed Under: Funding Opportunities