BioCurate Calls for Applications to Proof-of-Concept Fund 2024
Author
Date
BioCurate
August 12, 2024
BioCurate Proof-of-Concept (POC) Fund is expanded in 2024 to allow eligible companies as well as academic researchers to apply.
BioCurate is delighted to announce the opening of the POC Fund for 2024. This commercial funding scheme is designed to support early stage therapeutic projects that need further experimental validation to address key scientific gaps, generate additional compelling data to support the opportunity, de-risk projects and propel them to the next value inflection point.
The POC fund is expanded for this year to welcome applications from eligible companies alongside academic researchers. Successful applicants can receive up to $500K in funding over a period of 12-24 months to expedite therapeutic discoveries. In addition to financial support, recipients will benefit from BioCurate’s industry expertise and mentoring, which includes assistance in developing commercialisation and IP strategies, as well as crafting experimental plans to advance the opportunity and mitigate project risks. BioCurate staff will provide support throughout the project to maximise the chances of a successful outcome.
Dr. Kathy Nielsen, CEO of BioCurate Pty Ltd, states, “BioCurate is pleased to announce our new, flexible model for POC project funding. By expanding the scheme to include spin-outs from our shareholder universities and eligible medical research institutes (MRIs), we are adapting to include a greater range of commercialization pathways. We look forward to continuing to fund early-stage therapeutic projects with promising commercial potential, from academic and now, eligible spin-out companies. This provides further support for researchers and founders, leveraging third-party funding, and helping to maximise the chance of a tangible commercial outcome.”
Eligibility for this funding scheme includes researchers from the University of Melbourne, Monash University, or their affiliated Medical Research Institutes as well as companies which are either spin-outs from these research organisations, or where the IP underpinning the project originated from them.
Unlike traditional granting schemes, the POC scheme is a source of both funding and drug development support in a flexible arrangement that can lead to a number of commercialisation pathways. Following successful completion of a POC, the project may receive further BioCurate support, through in-licensing or extended POC funding, or alternatively through investment into a spin out.
The application consists of an online component with links to a downloadable Expression of Interest form (separate templates for academic and company applicants).
Submissions are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, 6th September 2024.
Click here to view the online application form and access the EOI templates.
Click here to download the slide deck from 2024 POC info sessions and here for a list of FAQs.
We encourage all qualified researchers and eligible companies to apply and seize this unique opportunity to advance their therapeutic discoveries with BioCurate’s support and funding. For more information, please contact the BioCurate POC team at poc@biocurate.com.
