Next Hundred Million Pilot Program (NHMPP)

INTRODUCTION

The University of Massachusetts Center for Clinical and Translational Science (UMCCTS) and MassBiologics of UMass Chan Medical School are pleased to announce a funding call for "The Next Hundred Million" Pilot Projects (NHMPP). The NHMPP will serve as a dedicated pool of funding to spur innovative collaborations between UMass Chan, MassBiologics of UMass Chan, and investigators across the UMass System with the goal of enhancing the translation of discoveries for clinical use.

PURPOSES

For over 120 years, MassBiologics of UMass Chan (www.umassmed.edu/massbiologics) has discovered, manufactured and delivered over 100 million doses of vaccines and immunotherapeutics to people all over the world. We are looking for pilot projects that will contribute to the discovery, preclinical and clinical research, manufacture and delivery of the “next hundred million doses” of products to improve public health. MassBiologics of UMass Chan is the only FDA licensed biologics production facility owned and operated by a University in the United States. It has unique discovery, preclinical, clinical, regulatory, quality assessment and GMP manufacturing expertise. The academic affiliation of MassBiologics of UMass Chan also allows it to serve as an incubator to innovate and improve the process of vaccine and biological and immunologic therapeutics development.

With the addition of the Vector Manufacturing Center (VMC) at MassBiologics SouthCoast in 2015, proposals that use viral vectors, such as rAAV, for delivery of therapies are especially encouraged.

Proposed projects must include at least one investigator from MassBiologics of UMass Chan (see RFA for complete listing of Division Leaders from MassBiologics) and a faculty investigator from at least one UMass campus. Inclusion of collaborators from UMass Chan is highly encouraged but not required.

Current and future projects supported by this fund are envisioned to develop into larger initiatives that attract substantial funding from extramural sources, including the Federal Government, the Commonwealth, industry, foundations and others.

ELIGIBILITY

1. UMCCTS member faculty from any of the five UMass campuses are eligible to participate. Investigators must hold UMass faculty status at the time that the award is made. UMCCTS membership is free, easy, and entails completion of an on-line membership form on the UMCCTS website here
2. Projects must include at least one investigator from MassBiologics of UMass Chan and a faculty investigator from at least one UMass campus.

ALLOWABLE USE OF FUNDS - RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST

Individual project awards (up to $75,000 for 1 year, up to $125,000 for 2 years) will be made on a competitive basis to enable investigators to accelerate the translation of innovative, cutting edge research into:

• Discovery research to develop novel therapeutics and vaccines for the prevention and/or treatment of disease;
• Clinical studies of novel or approved therapeutics or vaccines for the prevention and/or treatment of disease;
• Ways to improve currently available therapeutics/vaccines or product platforms  – improved PK/PD, efficacy, stability, convenience, or manufacturing methods; reduced cost of goods;
• Improvements in any part of the product development process that lead to more efficient therapeutic development;
• Research diagnostics or other research tools;
• Innovation related to quality assessment, quality control, or regulatory science;
• Innovation related to the process of therapeutic/vaccine development or production for human use.

The intent of the funding is to speed the translation of basic research, a clinical finding or other discovery into a broader network of activities, while maximizing the breadth of interdisciplinary skills applied to the research question. Faculty support up to 10% of the NIH salary cap is allowable. Indirect costs are not allowed. We are particularly interested in proposals which feature a clinical scientist working with a basic scientist. Proposals that include a significant training opportunity in clinical/translational research for students, trainees, fellows, or junior faculty will be given priority.

Thank you for your interest in clinical and translational science. We look forward to your ideas.