In 2016, NIDA issued the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO), “Growing Great Ideas: Research Education Course in Product Development and Entrepreneurship for Life Science Researchers.” The FOA, issued under the NIH Research Education program (R25), supported creative educational activities with a primary focus on courses for skills development and curriculum or methods development.
In 2017, NIDA awarded the first “Growing Great Ideas” grant to Yale’s Entrepreneurial Institute. Yale used the funding to develop “Innovation to Impact,” a customized curriculum in biomedical entrepreneurship, innovation, and biomedical product development for addiction research scientists.
In early 2021, NIDA reissued “Growing Great Ideas” (RFA-DA-22-020) under the NIH Research Education Program (UE5) and selected three awardees in July 2022.
The NOFO sought applications to develop a customized curriculum and implement education programs/short courses in biomedical entrepreneurship, innovation, and biomedical product development, specifically targeting scientists working in the field of addiction research. The institutions that proposed courses had to be institutions that have an established and well-recognized entrepreneurship teaching program with a demonstrated ability and passion to adapt/develop and deliver an integrated curriculum for academic life scientists.
| Educational Institution | Website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Babson College | The Life Sciences Entrepreneurial Product Development Immersion for New Technologies and Solutions (L-SPRINT) Program equips promising substance use disorder (SUD) scientists with knowledge in intellectual property protection, product development, and commercialization, as well as training in entrepreneurial thinking. Taking place in person for five days, participants can connect with peers and engage with one of the largest and most influential life science innovation ecosystems. | |
| Johns Hopkins Carey Business School | The Innovations for Substance Use Disorder (I4SUD) curriculum endows basic science researchers with the skills necessary to apply for translational funding, license intellectual property, and launch companies. The course consists of asynchronous online modules and in-person workshops, culminating in a pitch competition. Completion of the program comes with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the Carey Business School. | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Biomedical Product Development |
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Biomedical Product Development (EI4BPD) program trains SUD scientists in early-stage biomedical technology development, product commercialization and market entry, and entrepreneurship. This hybrid program offers in person and online classes, supplemented with live webinars and online support activities. Participants and program alumni belong to a Community of Peers comprised of SUD researchers and industry experts. |