Record Number of Pre-Proposals Received for
CIMIT Innovation Grants

Over 155 collaborations invited to submit full proposals

In January 2011, CIMIT announced a call for FY2012 pre-proposals in its Innovation Grant program.  Over 300 multidisciplinary teams responded,
a 50 percent increase over last year.  A significant portion of the pre-proposals represented multi-institutional collaborations as well, reflecting the vibrancy of the thirteen consortium institutions and the richness of ideas throughout the greater Boston-area research community.

One hundred fifty-five pre-proposals have been selected to advance to the full proposal stage and compete for CIMIT Innovation Grants of up to $100,000 in total cost.  CIMIT Innovation Grants support early stage, collaborative research projects for improving patient care, with emphasis on devices, procedures, diagnosis, and the delivery of healthcare for wounded warriors, veterans and civilian patients.

Of the 155 pre-proposals invited, the portfolio of potential collaborations
in 2012 includes:

• innovations in the area of neurohealth  -- over one-third of the proposed projects offer innovative technologies and approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and injuries; 

• efficiencies in the delivery of care -- one-third of the submissions have the potential to significantly advance the CIMIT Integrated Clinical Environments initiative. Projects within the initiative include working groups and collaborations that are focused on integrating clinical workflow redesign with innovative technologies, medical device interoperability, and clinical use simulation to enhance the safety and efficiency of clinical care and provide improved decision support for clinicians at the point-of-care; and

• solutions for wounded warriors -- nearly two-thirds of those pre-proposals invited to compete in the final review process have direct relevance to improving care for the injured soldier. These novel approaches will improve care on the battlefield, during evacuation and in other trauma care settings. Other projects offer benefit in the care of veterans during rehabilitation and in managing chronic conditions in both military and civilian populations.

All applicants have been notified of the review decisions. Due on March 31, 2011, full proposals are only being accepted from those whose pre-proposals have been approved and who have been invited to submit a full proposal.

CIMIT is a clinically-based consortium of Boston-area hospitals and engineering schools, including Mass General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, MIT, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston University, Boston University Medical Campus, Childrens Hospital Boston, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Northeastern University, Partners HealthCare, and VA Boston Healthcare System.  CIMIT supports translational research by multidisciplinary teams for medical device and clinical technology system applications, and through seed funding and facilitation attracts world-class clinicians, scientists and engineers working together with industry and government to accelerate the clinical impact of innovative technologies.