Supporting innovative, high-risk ideas to transform outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge is a powerful funding avenue for multidisciplinary critical care research teams that supports the development of diagnostic, device, therapeutic, or health IT solutions addressing the initial ‘golden hours’ of care after severe traumatic brain injury.
The Grand Challenge framework addresses the barriers between concept and realization by providing unique tools and resources to funded teams. The process includes education sessions, two rounds of detailed proposal submissions, and project reviews by TBI experts from across the nation including U-M, industry, and the Department of Defense.
The 2024 TBI Grand Challenge Kickoff
Join the Weil Institute on March 12 as we launch the 2024 Grand Challenge with an informative kickoff session! This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in participating to network and learn more about the Grand Challenge process.
While this is a hybrid event, we strongly recommend guests attend in-person if able.
The Grand Challenge “Wolverine Wrangle”
Meet with mentors in medicine, engineering, and IP and commercialization during the Wolverine Wrangle—a collaborative speed networking session designed to give competitors the opportunity to connect with likeminded researchers, identify potential collaborators, pick the brains of previous awardees and interact with industry leaders, researchers, and potential PIs to further develop and refine ideas prior to submitting a proposal.
2024 Grand Challenge Timeline
Meet our Keynote Speaker: Matthew E. Fink, MD
Dr. Fink is the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs and the Louis and Gertrude Feil Professor and Chair of Neurology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. Prior to joining the faculty of New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, Dr. Fink served as president and chief executive officer of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, as well as chairman of its Barbara and Alan Mirken Department of Neurology, director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center and co-director of the Hyman-Newman Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery. He also served as professor of clinical neurology and clinical medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.
Dr. Fink is board certified in internal medicine, neurology, critical care medicine, vascular neurology and neurocritical care. He was a founding member and chairman of the Critical Care Section of the American Academy of Neurology and the Research Section for Neurocritical Care of the World Federation of Neurology. He is a past president of the New York Neurological Society and was recently elected to fellowship in both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Heart Association. Throughout his career, Dr. Fink has been involved in the education and training of students, residents and fellows in the field of stroke and critical care neurology, as well as an active participant in clinical research within this field. He has lectured widely and published many research and clinical articles.
Featuring Special Guest Speakers
Peter Le Roux, MD, FAANS, FACS
Professor of Neurosurgery, University of
Rochester Medical Center;
Chief of Neurosurgery, Bassett Health Care
Geoffrey Ling, MD, PhD, DSci (Hon)
Professor of Neurology and
Attending Physician in Neuro Critical Care,
Johns Hopkins Medical Institution
One gift, endless breakthroughs.
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge is made possible through the generous support of the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation.
Since 2015, the foundation’s support has enabled us to bring together experts from around the world, share knowledge, and spark rapid-fire innovation across the field of TBI.
The TBI Grand Challenge is one of 3 programs under the Massey TBI umbrella, which also includes the Massey TBI Conference and Joyce Massey TBI Summit.
Grand Challenge Competition Details
Scoring Criteria
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge accepts both new projects as well as competitive renewals (previous Grand Challenge awardees applying for follow-on funding). Please be sure to submit your proposal using the correct template on Competition Space. Submission links will be made available following the March 12 kickoff event.
NEW PROJECTS
- Relevance to Massey TBI Grand Challenge Focus
- Does your project focus on a clinically important gap in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of severe TBI in the initial hours after injury?
- Clinical Impact
- If successful, would your project have significant clinical impact?
- Research Plan
- Will results of your study be reliable and actionable?
- Realistic Budget & Timeline
- Can results be achieved with the funds requested in the time allocated?
COMPETITIVE RENEWALS
- Research Plan
- Will results of this next stage of study be reliable and actionable?
- Project Management
- How has your team managed their past milestones and/or any issues that have arisen during the previous funding cycle?
- Progress Toward Commercialization and/or Follow-On Funding
- Is your project at a stage where Massey TBI Grand Challenge funding will move it closer toward commercialization or additional follow-on funding?
- Realistic Budget & Timeline
- Can results be achieved with the funds in the time allocated?
Grand Challenge FAQs
How does the Grand Challenge work? How can I be successful?
The Grand Challenge supports high-impact proposals by funding milestone-driven research over a 12-month timeframe. To be successful, teams must:
Think inside and outside the box and propose high risk, high reward projects that specifically address the needs of patients with traumatic brain injury
Multidisciplinary teams of researchers are favored
Projects with more viable plans for acceleration are favored – work must lead to a next significant level/step to bedside (i.e. jump form rodent to large animal, jump from large animal to clinical feasibility, etc.)
A product, method, process, must be proposed (not typical discovery basic science)
Does not have to have intellectual property (questions about IP can be directed to Weil’s Commercialization Coach, Jay Semerad – jsemerad@med.umich.edu )
What kind of support does the Weil Institute provide?
Need help finding an interdisciplinary team? Through our network of members, we can help connect you with the right Co-PI for your project.
The Weil team will review proposals before submission for any teams interested in receiving feedback. Proposals must be emailed to masseygrandchallenge@umich.edu.
Mentors and coaches will continue to collaborate with project teams after they have been funded.
The Weil Institute will support and review quarterly progress reports, submitted to the Massey Oversight Committee.
Our Commercialization Coach and team will work with teams as new inventions/IP is disclosed to the U-M Office of Innovation Partnerships in advance of a public disclosure and to make sure milestones are met.
Our Proposal Development team can help teams with follow-on funding.