Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Innovation Incubator (InnovaTor)

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are growing challenges to the public health and have unmet needs that can be addressed through: Specific Aim 1) innovation and entrepreneurship; Specific Aim 2) non-academic research-based careers; and Specific Aim 3) academic ADRD drug development. These three themes will be developed in seminars, internships, lived experiences, discussions, and supervised projects of the UNLV Brain Health Innovation Incubator (InnovaTor). The InnovaTor will be Co-Led by Principal Investigator (PI) Jeffrey Cummings, MD, ScD, an experienced ADRD investigator and trialist and PI Jamie Schwartz, MBA, Director of Industry and Business Engagement for the UNLV Office of Economic Development to create a science-business leadership team. The InnovaTor will be a platform to help students identify research products that have commercial value, protect intellectual property, initiate a start-up company, secure funding, promote commercialization, and advance a marketing campaign (Specific Aim 1). The curriculum will include an introduction to SBIR and STTR grant development. In addition to on-going seminars, a 1-week summer Entrepreneurship Immersion Experience engaging UNLV students and others in discussions, projects, and team exercises will be hosted by the InnovaTor. An annual Innovation Day will involve campus-wide activities to attract participants to the InnovaTor and provide insights into the opportunities for ADRD-related entrepreneurship. Discussions of non-academic career alternatives will be led by individuals with roles in government science administration, advocacy, non-profit organizations, science writing and editing, policy think tanks, and investment (Specific Aim 2). The InnovaTor has established a strategic alliance with Eli Lilly and Company to have industry- based faculty interact with participants and educate about research-based careers in biopharma. Drug development discussions will emphasize the academic-industry interface with associated start-up and entrepreneurial opportunities (Specific Aim 3). An Innovator Club will be comprised of current and past InnovaTor participants to encourage entrepreneurship and to support an evolving start-up community. An agile InnovaTor structure will be supported by a Steering Committee, External Advisory Board, and an assessment team. Defined milestones will guide the development of the InnovaTor. Outreach to UNLV programs as well as other educational institutions in Southern Nevada will be led by an Innovation NavigaTor including a program to attract undergraduate students (Pre-CubaTor). UNLV is both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution providing an opportunity to build programs to attract minority students to InnovaTor activities. The InnovaTor will interact with NIH and NSF-funded programs at UNLV, UNLV innovation resources (Lee Business School, Boyd School of Law, Office of Economic Development), and local community biotechnology firms and organizations. The Brain Health InnovaTor will build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship devoted to ADRD.