UHN Commercialization is committed to converting our top-tier science into products and treatments with the potential to impact patients worldwide. To this end, UHN’s technology incubation model includes in-house accelerator programs offering significant capital to help early-stage technologies advance to the point of commercialization readiness.
Programs such as the Innovation Acceleration Fund, in partnership with the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, help researchers close funding gaps between research funding received from grant and government sources, and the significant private-sector investments needed to de-risk discoveries in order to bring new therapies and technologies to the people who need them.
The Innovation Acceleration Fund (IAF) has been established to overcome barriers to research translation. Its objective is to accelerate research discoveries at UHN to demonstrate commercial applicability to potential industry partners and/or investors.
A maximum contribution of $250,000 is available per proposal. Eligible researchers are currently those affiliated with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. You can learn more here or by contacting us at: IAFinfo@uhn.ca.
Are you a researcher at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre? Think your project can accelerate cutting edge cancer research from bench to bedside? With the IAF, early stage research results with high commercialization potential can receive critical development funds to advance and potentially help patients world-wide.
Questions? Contact us at : IAFinfo@uhn.ca
The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre is the largest cancer centre in Canada and one of the top five cancer research centres in the world. With the goal of improving the lives of people affected by cancer, the scientists and clinicians at Princess Margaret are continuously advancing our understanding of cancer biology and discovering opportunities for new treatments, and enhancements to cancer care.
Translating research discoveries to achieve maximum patient impact (e.g. therapies/diagnostics/technologies/services) means validation of their safe and effective use, which requires significant financial commitment. This is usually achieved by working with a commercial partner and includes licensing of UHN intellectual property to allow its continued validation and development.
Historically, funding needed to support the development of early stage research or promising technologies has been lacking. The IAF had been established precisely to address this funding gap. Its objective is to accelerate research discoveries to a point where their commercial viability can be demonstrated, thus enabling initial stages of development of therapeutics/diagnostics/technologies/services that can eventually be used by patients.
IAF funding is made possible by the generous support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and is administered by Commercialization at UHN, who ensures alignment between IAF and UHN’s Intellectual Property Policy and actively participates in strengthening the business and commercialization aspects of IAF projects.
Background
The IAF has been established to advance innovative research with promising commercial potential along the path towards commercialization. The IAF program solicits and awards milestone based proposals of up to $250,000 in support of UHN innovations in anticipation of a future commercialization event.
Translational research activities considered eligible, but are not limited to:
• Prototype development
• Generation of in-vivo data
• Reduction to practice
• Proof-of-concept studies
• Clinical demonstration
• Scale-up required for clinical phase work
Objective
The primary goal of the IAF is to support the advancement of high potential research towards commercialization, in order to deliver advances in health care.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the IAF, the lead applicant must be both the principal inventor and hold an appointment with Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Please refer to the below eligibility criteria.
The Role of Commercialization at UHN
The IAF is a collaboration between UHN researchers and the Commercialization at UHN team. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact IAFinfo@uhn.ca prior to submitting a proposal, for guidance on intellectual property and commercialization considerations.
Prospective applicants will collaborate with an assigned member of the Commercialization at UHN team to evaluate the proposed project’s eligibility for this program, and subsequently to advise and work with researchers on their application. The Commercialization at UHN team member will act as an internal "sponsor" and represent the proposal through internal prioritization processes until it is selected for presentation to the IAF Board. Proposal presentations to the Board will generally involve both the scientific leaders and the affiliated Commercialization at UHN representative.
Overview
A subcommittee of the IAF Board will review all proposals, while considering the recommendations of the Commercialization at UHN team. Select proposals are then invited to present to be considered by the full IAF Board. The aim is to make prompt decisions in order to expedite the validation of innovative research to commercial parties. The IAF Board meets three times annually.
Key criteria for evaluating proposals include:
• Expertise – scientific merit, expertise, and commercialization track record of
key researchers, innovators and collaborators
• Scientific Innovation –novelty of the opportunity in comparison to other solutions and stage of development
• Technology Utility –potential for commercialization and uptake, timeline to achieve tangible valuation
• Finance Plan – amount sought and use of funds
• Market Analysis – unmet need, size/opportunity for growth, barriers to adoption
• Risks – potential technological, regulatory and financial risks
• Competition – comparison to current standards, competitors
• Proprietary assets –barriers to others entering the market
• Possible acquirers of the technology
The proposal evaluation criteria provide further information that the IAF Board will take into account when evaluating a proposal. Each member of the IAF Board will evaluate a slide deck and video presentation outlining the opportunity. The IAF Board meeting discussions will dictate whether a proposal will be funded.
Constructive feedback will be provided to proposals that are not selected for IAF funding, and teams are encouraged to re-submit their proposals, clearly addressing any prior Board recommendations.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
1. Open to applicants that hold appointments within the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
2. Applicant is both principal inventor and lead for proposal being submitted.
3. Funding up to $250,000 per proposal.
4. Proposal advances the generation of a product or service (e.g. diagnostics, therapeutics, software, device, etc.) to deliver substantive impact to patient care. Activities can include but are not restricted to proof-of-concept, reduction to practice, commercial demonstration and prototype development work.
5. Key data and results required to demonstrate commercial potential.
6. Proposal activities independent of existing and upcoming sources of funding. Details for submitted sources of funding to be provided.
7. Intellectual Property disclosure has been or is in process of being filed at UHN.
8. Clear downstream commercial opportunity in terms of licensing or company formation presented.
9. Funds increase the value proposition of commercial opportunity (i.e. no pre-existing binding terms on financial return).
10. Funds can be paid to UHN Departments or external companies for the provision of external services.
How to Apply
Please email IAFinfo@uhn.ca to request an Investment Proposal Form. Complete the Investment Proposal Form and submit to IAFinfo@uhn.ca
Application Process
The IAF application process, from initial submission of the Investment Proposal Form to presenting to the IAF Leadership Board is illustrated in the flowchart below:
Princess Margaret Cancer Center IAF
IAF Proposal Flowchart
Please contact us at IAFinfo@uhn.ca with any questions about the application process.
The IAF Board meets three times a year and bears responsibility for the administration of the IAF on behalf of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation.
The table below provides information on the submission deadlines for the investment proposal form associated with each IAF call round, as well as the subsequent IAF Board Meetings at which the selected proposals will be invited to present.
2023 IAF Calls
* Please note these dates are subject to change without notice. Last updated: June 2023
The IAF Board holds responsibility for the IAF on behalf of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Its objective is to support the acceleration of research discoveries from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre towards commercialization, in order to advance healthcare delivery and outcomes.
The IAF Board is comprised of representatives from UHN, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and ecosystem partners. Additional Board members will participate on a revolving basis based on the expertise required by the proposals.