The ExCITE Program: Expediting Commercialization, Innovation, Translation, & Entrepreneurship

 描述(由申请人提供)：该项目的总体目标是提高基础生物医学研究成果转化为对人类健康有积极影响的产品的成功率和速度。为此，我们建议在路易斯维尔大学(UofL)创建一个商业化项目，其结构旨在克服目前阻碍翻译的许多障碍。尽管UofL是一家处于理想状态的相对较小的机构，但它已经投资于翻译研究的人才和基础设施，以创造一种支持创业的文化。这已经产生了回报，UofL已经获得了许多主要赠款，包括三个当前的Cobre奖、Coulter翻译伙伴关系、NIH心脏保护联盟、NIH-UofL RBL(BSL-3设施)和多个P/U系列赠款。此外，UofL的发现导致了已经让患者受益的干预措施，例如一种一流的抗癌药物，一种防止移植排斥反应的方法，以及一项允许截瘫患者重新站立的方案。更多的UofL创新现在正在进行临床试验，包括新的疫苗和检测癌症的微创设备。拟议的UofL REACH计划将被称为“激励性中心”，以反映其作为加速商业化、创新、翻译和创业的中心资源的功能。该枢纽旨在实现FOA(RFA-OD-14-005)的目标，但也是为匹配UofL的特定优势和需求而量身定做的。简而言之，该大学将提供翻译研究所需的各种技术和基础设施/专业知识的强大管道，而中心将提供必要的资金、教育和获得商业专业知识的机会，以弥合伟大想法和市场之间的差距。Excite Hub有三个主要目标：(1)确定最有前景的技术并为产品定义研究提供资金，(2)促进选定产品的商业化并过渡到自给自足的Excite计划，以及(3)为利益相关者扩大教育、体验和网络机会。我们的方法包括创新特征：(1)着眼于地理位置的计划，以加快运营并最大限度地影响当地生态系统；(2)创新的治理结构，以整合三个主要目标并避免孤岛；(3)主动而不是被动的教育方法；(4)需要科学家、技术转移人员和行业顾问之间及早互动的指导式技术开发资助计划；以及(5)强调通过增进相互了解、确保强大的技术和响应行业需求来改善学术界和产业界的关系。机构和地区对Excite Hub的承诺从310万美元的配套资金和40封支持信中可见一斑。该项目的成功将对该地区产生重大的经济影响，并将加快向需要的患者交付创新的新产品。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching goal of this project is to increase the success rate and speed with which the results of basic biomedical research are translated into products that have a positive impact on human health. To do this, we propose to create a commercialization program at the University of Louisville (UofL) with a structure that is designed to overcome the many obstacles that currently impede translation. Though UofL is a relatively small institution in an IDeA state, it has invested in talent and infrastructure for translational research in order to create a pro-entrepreneurial culture. This has already paid dividends and UofL has been awarded numerous major grants, including three current COBRE awards, a Coulter Translational Partnership, the NIH Cardioprotection Consortium, the NIH-UofL RBL (a BSL-3 facility), and multiple P-/U- series grants. Moreover, UofL discoveries have led to interventions that have already benefited patients, such as a first-in- class anticancer drug, a method to prevent transplant rejection, and a protocol that has allowed paraplegic patients to stand again. Many more UofL innovations are now on their way to clinical trials, including new vaccines and minimally invasive devices to detect cancer. The proposed UofL REACH program will be known as "the ExCITE Hub" to reflect its function as a central resource for Expediting Commercialization, Innovation, Translation, and Entrepreneurship. The hub is designed to fulfill the goals of the FOA (RFA-OD- 14-005), but is tailored to match UofL's specific strengths and needs. In short, the university will supply a robust pipeline of diverse technologies and the infrastructure/expertise required for translational research, whereas the Hub will deliver the necessary funding, education, and access to business expertise to bridge the gap between a great idea and the marketplace. The ExCITE Hub has three major aims: (1) identify the most promising technologies and provide funding for product definition studies, (2) promote commercialization of selected products and transition to a self-sustaining ExCITE program, and (3) expand educational, experiential, and networking opportunities for stakeholders. Our approach includes innovative features: (1) a geographically focused program to expedite operations and maximize impact on the local eco-system, (2) an innovative governance structure to integrate the three main goals and avoid silos, (3) a proactive, rather than passive, approach to education, (4) a mentored technology development grant program that requires early interactions between scientists, tech transfer staff, and industry consultants, and (5) an emphasis on improving academia-industry relationships by increasing mutual understanding, ensuring robust technologies, and being responsive to industry needs. Institutional and regional commitment to the ExCITE Hub is evident from the >$3.1M in matching funds and 40 letters of support. Success in this project will have a major economic impact on the region and will speed the delivery of innovative new products to the patients that need them.