Center for Innovative NeuroTech Advancement (CINTA) - Evaluation Core

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Abstract: EVALUATION CORE The Evaluation Core is responsible for using rigorous and transparent processes that combine the best of NIH- managed peer review practices with well-established methods used in the medtech industry for evaluating proposals received in response to CINTA annual solicitations. CIMIT has extensive experience with multi- stage processes for the evaluation of applications, including for CIMIT’s NeuroTechnology Program under Dr. Schachter’s leadership, and NIH’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Program (RADx Tech). The number of full applications received per solicitation for these programs has ranged from 30 to over 700. CINTA’s overarching goal is to support innovations that have the greatest probability of commercial success to solve significant unmet needs for persons with nervous system disorders. Instead of the typical grant review process that selects projects based only on what the applicant puts into their applications (“evaluate and select”), the Evaluation Core will use a multi-stage review process to “assess, improve, select, and facilitate” subprojects. This follows the “funnel” approach of industry and RADx Tech to winnow down proposals through staged evaluations to those judged to have the greatest likelihood of success. The Evaluation Core will adapt and improve CIMIT’s evaluation processes including experts with broad competencies in neurotechnologies and disorders of the nervous system and patients and family members with personal experiences. The Core will manage the application evaluation process with a Triage Panel, Viability Panel, Deep Dive teams, and a Deep Dive Panel. Recommendations from each stage will be presented to the CINTA Coordination Team, then the Steering Panel and then to NIH leadership for approval. These stages include: 1) pre-proposal screening by a Triage Panel to determine if the proposal is responsive to the CINTA solicitation and within scope for Blueprint MedTech, 2) review of invited full proposals by a Viability Panel to determine whether the application addresses a clear unmet need of interest to the NIH Participating Organizations and has the potential to reach a human-grade prototype with CINTA support, 3) A Deep Dive Team consisting of experienced mentors and expert facilitators to work with assigned project teams over 1-3 weeks and conduct due diligence to uncover project risks and create a project roadmap with realistic funding requirements and timelines. The end-result is creation of milestone-driven budgets and Go/No-go decision points for the Innovator Subprojects Core to monitor and determine whether a subproject should continue with CINTA support or be terminated, and 4) review by the Deep Dive Panel for innovativeness, potential impact on identified unmet needs, team capabilities, and whether a human-grade prototype can likely be achieved within the proposed timeline and budget, and how the solution will address the needs of underserved communities. The Panel can recommend approval for funding, rejection, or continuation of the deep dive.