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BARDA: Mask Innovation Challenge

To accelerate the development of the next generation of masks, BARDA and NIOSH have partnered to launch the Mask Innovation Challenge: Building Tomorrow’s Mask. The Mask Innovation Challenge aims to improve the comfort, utility, and protective capabilities of available community masks that are worn during day-to-day activities when physical distancing is not possible. This competition is designed to support the development of mask designs that meet predefined performance standards, while providing increased comfort and durability to the average consumer.

Can you help build a better mask – one that people are interested in wearing? You will have helped solved one of the biggest problems of the day! The mask design innovation challenge puts up a $500,000 prize purse for new mask designs that overcome the common reasons people don’t wear masks in the current pandemic. Phase 1 is design, due 5 p.m. April 21, 2021; phase 2 is testing of prototypes by NIOSH scientists and partner labs. Learn more at drive.hhs.gov/mask_challenge.html and then see Challenge.gov for the rules, criteria, timelines and how to submit.

Mask Innovation Challenge Event 4/15

Don’t miss the Mask Innovation Challenge event at the Venture Café at UCSC on Thursday, April 15, 2021: “Why we need to innovate on the non-medical grade face mask” from 3-4pm EDT. HHS’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will discuss comfort, utility, and protective factor of current non-medical grade face masks as well as opportunities to innovate on these designs.

Event link*: https://venturecafephiladelphia.org/event/why-we-need-to-innovate-on-the-non-medical-grade-face-mask/

8this link can be used to access the event on the day of the talk, no registration required)

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Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

[post_title] => BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => bioreach-translational-research-funding-opportunity [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-04 11:55:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-04 15:55:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=5065 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3340 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2019-08-26 18:49:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-08-26 18:49:56 [post_content] => The Center for Biotechnology, on behalf of Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH), is pleased to announce the opening of the 8th round of the LIBH Technology Development RFP. Two specific funding programs have been designed to help faculty, physicians, surgeons, medical fellows, and post-docs develop their academic innovations toward commercial goals. The RFP is and forms for the funding programs can be found on the Center for Biotechnology website here. Those interested in applying are strongly encouraged to discuss the proposal with: Anton Xavier (anton.xavier@stonybrook.edu) William Hanes (william.hanes@stonybrook.edu) Heather Bielski Lawler (heather.bielski@stonybrook.edu) Johnna St Clair (johnna.stclair@stonybrook.edu) They are happy to introduce this Technology Development program and provide support to address unfamiliar questions in the application. Deadline for submission is Sep 13th, 2019. All proposal should be submitted through the online portal HERE. Please note an approval from your Sponsored Programs Office is NOT required prior to the submission but will be required if the project is selected for NIH secondary review. Eligible applicants will be notified if their application is selected to move forward. The Center for Biotechnology, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, formed the LIBH. A principal goal of the LIBH is to foster the development of therapeutics, diagnostics, devices and research tools emerging from within the four partner institutions that address diseases within the mission of NIH. The LIBH is supported by the National Institutes of Health REACH initiative (Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub), our four partner institutions, The Research Foundation for SUNY, and Empire State Development.   [post_title] => Funding Opportunity: Long Island Bioscience Hub REACH [post_excerpt] => The Center for Biotechnology, on behalf of Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH), is pleased to announce the opening of the 8th round of the LIBH Technology Development RFP. Two specific funding programs have been designed to help faculty, physicians, surgeons, medical fellows, and post-docs develop their academic innovations toward commercial goals. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => funding-opportunity-long-island-bioscience-hub-reach [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-08-26 18:49:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-08-26 18:49:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=3340 [menu_order] => 87 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4324 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2023-11-15 11:24:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-11-15 16:24:15 [post_content] =>

Join the Center for Biotechnology at the 10th Annual Immuno-Oncology 360° Summit on February 27-29, 2024 at the New York Marriott At The Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, NY!

IO360° offers an unparalleled opportunity to hear from stakeholders representing both the science and business communities who report on the latest data impacting ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​IO to fight a wider range of cancers. CFB constituents can take 15% off their registration cost with the code: CFB15 - Learn more and register here: https://io360summit.com/

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The Center for Biotechnology recently co-hosted a startup series focused on providing guidance and insight into how innovators can take their solution from the benchtop to the Biomedical Advanced Research & Development Authority (BARDA).

Produced in collaboration with our fellow BARDA Division of Research, Innovation & Ventures (DRIVe) accelerators, each of the six sessions focused on key start up topics and were led by experts with providing an overview of key resources available to innovators to help fund and advance their solution from early through late stages of development, as well as provide guidance on how to navigate the funding opportunities within BARDA and BARDA DRIVe.

Look for our announcements of additional offerings from the BARDA DRIVe network soon, including the upcoming BARDA Industry Day on November 15-16, 2022.

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Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

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BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity

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Funding Opportunity: Long Island Bioscience Hub REACH

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10th Annual Immuno-Oncology 360° Summit

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Successful Launch: Bench to BARDA Startup Series

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