Brown Technology Innovations

Brown Innovation Fund - Life Sciences Impact Awards

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Brown Innovation Fund - Life Sciences Impact Awards

The Brown Innovation Fund is intended for granting Life Sciences Impact Awards to Brown Faculty to support development of life sciences technologies with the potential to achieve commercialization.

One or two awards will be made per year of up to $250K of funding and accompanying support through advising and mentorship. These awards are expected to generate partnerable or licensable technology with the potential for company creation at the end of the proposed timeframe.

Technologies best positioned for a Life Sciences Impact Award will be product-focused, addressing a clearly defined unmet need, have established some proof of concept and be supported by appropriate intellectual property filings. Projects ‘graduating’ from a BBII Pilot Award may be well suited, but this is not a requirement.

Eligibility

The focus of this program is the life sciences, such as identification and development of therapeutics, diagnostics or medical devices. Eligible applicants are faculty whose principal appointment is at Brown University specifically, investigators who are covered by the Brown University IP policy and have an obligation to assign IP to Brown University. Additionally, faculty employed by Brown-affiliated hospital partners Care New England and Brown University Health who have a primary academic appointment at Brown University shall be eligible so long as their application includes a letter of support from their employer. For questions about eligibility contact bbii-projects@brown.edu.

How to Apply

  • Prospective applicants should review the Full Description and Guidelines.
  • Expression of Interest Form: Applicants who are interested in applying for a BBII Proof of Concept or Life Science Impact award should fill out the Expression of Interest form. A two page project description and plan with an estimated timeline is required and should be uploaded where prompted through the form. Expression of Interest forms must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. Only one preproposal per applicant will be accepted per cycle.
  • Introductory meeting: Every applicant who submits an Expression of Interest form will be contacted to set up a one hour meeting with members of the BBII and BTI teams to review the form and discuss the technology and development plan.
  • Full proposals: By invitation only. Staff at the BBII and Brown Technology Innovations will assist applicants with the development of full proposals, particularly with determination of commercial potential and development of milestones to reach that potential. Applicants will be expected to present/pitch their proposals (in person or via video conferencing, TBD, in May) to the Independent Investment Advisory Committee. Full proposals will be reviewed by the Committee and possibly one or more external technical advisors. Award decisions will be made by the Advisory Committee in consultation with BBII with funding expected to begin in July 2026.