COVID-19 Innovation Center

The COVID-19 crisis demands new innovations and solutions to the problems that we all face.  This innovation center is a central hub for funding resources and technologies that can help combat COVID-19. The funding list includes internal and external sources: eligibility for VCU faculty, students, or outside companies may vary. The COVID-19 related technologies list includes new inventions that are directly targeted to COVID-19, as well as existing inventions that could be used or modified to fight COVID-19. VCU Innovation Gateway is offering free ready-to-execute licenses to hospitals and industry partners to use and/or manufacture these inventions and related products in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about these funding resources and technologies below or contact ott@vcu.edu with any questions or to discuss your interest.

To request a free license to one of these technologies, contact ott@vcu.edu or click on the direct download link (if available) for that technology.

Funding resources

VCU OVPRI COVID-19 Rapid Research Funding

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, with support of the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, is offering a rapid grant initiative to provide up to $10,000 in internal funding support to VCU investigators working on COVID-19 related projects. These grants are for PIs from both campuses and all programs, including the arts, business, education, policy, engineering and others. 

Learn more about this opportunity by reading the full COVID-19 Rapid Research Announcement or by visiting the OVPRI COVID-19 webpage.

Submit OVPRI rapid funding application

The Health Innovation Consortium (HIC)

The HIC has developed a fund which is designed to provide grant funding for the development of innovative solutions that can be rapidly deployed to meet the immediate needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects aimed at addressing the needs of our health systems, patients, and frontline healthcare workers, are eligible for up to $10,000 in funding.

Submit HIC rapid funding application

To learn more about the HIC, or share an urgent healthcare problem/need with their innovation team and network of healthcare professionals, visit the HIC Portal.

Frontiers Coronavirus Funding Monitor

Frontiers has provided a curated list of open funding calls and other support for researchers, non-profit organizations and commercial organizations, specifically for COVID-19 and coronavirus-related research.

The list is updated daily and can be found at the Coronavirus Funding Monitor website.

xTech COVID-19 Ventilator Challenge

The Army's Tech COVID-19 Ventilator Challenge seeks a low-cost, readily manufacturable emergency ventilator to quickly augment ventilator capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The technology solution must provide a rapid response breathing apparatus capable of short-term, rugged field operation.

Virtual pitches for selected companies will begin April 13. To learn more visit the xTechSearch Homepage.

M2D2 CoVent-19 Challenge

The CoVent-19 Challenge, hosted by Boston-based anesthesia residents, is a global challenge to find ventilation solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic requires urgent solutions that can be deployed globally, including in low-resource areas where standard mechanical ventilators are normally impractical.

The deadline for the open entry round is May 1. To learn more please visit the CoVent-19 Challenge Homepage.

Virginia Bio COVID-19 Resource Exchange

Virginia Bio has developed a platform to share, learn, and connect on the important strides being made in the evolving COVID-19 epidemic. Check out the COVID-19 Resource Exchange for links to community and national updates to help us work smarter and stay safe during these changing times.

Virginia Catalyst Funding

The Virginia Catalyst, formerly known as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), is accepting letters of intent (LOI) for Grant Round 11 to fund the development and commercialization of life science projects that address major unmet needs for improving human health and advancing Virginia’s economy. While all life science projects will be accepted for Grant Round 11, given the impact of COVID-19, emphasis will be placed on projects within the areas of infectious disease, immunology, vaccine and drug discovery, and innovative service delivery models including telehealth and telemedicine.

Read the full VA Catalyst Press Release or visit the Virginia Catalyst webpage to learn more on how to submit a letter of intent.

Koffman Southern Tier Incubator

The team at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator has curated a variety of resources to assist businesses, researchers, and manufacturers who have the capacity and drive to assist in efforts to protect lives.

For a list of resources aimed to assist businesses adapting to the changing economy, please visit their Business Resources webpageTo learn more about the tools, software, and funding opportunities that are available to help combat COVID-19, download their OEIP COVID-19 Resources List.

SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposals

The Division of Innovation and Industrial Partnerships (IIP) of the Engineering Directorate invites US-based small businesses to submit Phase I proposals focused on the development and deployment of new technologies, products, processes, and services with the potential to positively impact the nation’s and world’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Areas of research that might be considered include, but are not limited to: artificial intelligence, digital health, diagnostics, distributed ledger, environmental technologies, medical devices, pharmaceutical technologies, disinfection and sterilization, and filtration and separations. 

To learn more about the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Program, please click here.

IN-PART

VCU Innovation Gateway is currently partnered with IN-PART, an online collaboration platform that connects academic research with teams at over 6,000 R&D intensive companies worldwide. IN-PART is inviting academics and research commercialization professionals to submit non-confidential proposals for research related to combating COVID-19 directly (e.g. prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines, anti-viral drugs, etc.) or indirectly (e.g. protective equipment, diagnostics, etc.).

To submit a proposal, first submit an invention disclosure to our office. Then, download the IN-PART COVID-19 Submission Form and follow the instructions for how to submit.

BARDA & MTEC

In light of the magnitude and potential threat that the coronavirus (COVID-19) poses, the Government seeks to rapidly accelerate the inquiry, testing, and fielding of new 21st century capabilities, employing novel technologies and approaches to the detection of exposure, prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 and future emerging threats.

To learn more about these requests for proposals, see the BARDA and MTEC announcements, or visit www.phe.gov for more details.

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COVID-19 Technologies

19-073F NLRP3 Pathway Inhibitors
This is a novel compound which has been identified as an NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor. While this compound was originally devised as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, it could be used/adapted to treat the cytokine storm that is observed in patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms.

18-056 Anti-microbial Filters
This technology is an wire mesh with iron oxide nanowires. When electrified with a low voltage current, the mesh is able to inactive microbes through electroporation and joule heating effects. This technology has been designed for HVAC systems and may be adaptable to industrial cleaning systems or positive pressure respirators.

18-019 Synthesizing Hydroxychloroquine
A high-yielding semi-continuous flow method for producing hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a drug that may be useful as a treatment for COVID-19.

17-075F Capillary-Based Dry Powder Inhaler
This technology improves dry powder inhalers and is compatible with mechanical ventilation.

12-063 Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS)
A quick and reliable method to evaluate sedation (e.g., during mechanical ventilation). RASS is an excellent tool to include in treatment guidelines due to its familiarity to many healthcare providers and overall simplicity.

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