Objectives

The aim of the SPARK Bordeaux program is to support students, researchers and clinicians who lead translational research projects to develop treatments and diagnoses targeting unmet medical needs.

Project support will include dedicated training seminars, individual mentoring, advice from industrial and academic experts throughout all stages of project development, and funding from the University of Bordeaux. The objectives are to help the project to progress in the translational chain and to reach the milestones defined in its development plan.

Project managers will attend regular meetings to discuss with the network of other project managers and experts and present developments in their own projects.

This support is organized for a maximum of two years.

Projects must meet 3 general criteria:

• Target an unmet medical need
• Use a novel approach
• Have the potential to advance within 2 years to a licensing agreement, or a stage where further funding can be obtained from another source, or a clinical trial stage.

Research topics

The program is aimed at any innovative translational research project targeting unmet medical needs in patient care (treatment, diagnosis, molecular repositioning, etc.). Particular interest will be afforded to projects in the fields of neurosciences, data science and health technology

Application deadline

The SPARK Bordeaux call for projects is an annual process. Projects must be submitted online on the SPARK Bordeaux website, using the downloadable application form.

The deadline for the call for projects is May the 2nd, 2019 (midnight). Then, applications will be evaluated by the Selection Committee which will make a preselection. Preselected projects will be invited to make an oral presentation before the Selection Committee, using a predefined format (support provided, 10 minutes for presentation, 10 minutes for questions & answers). Results will be communicated in June, 2019.

Evaluation criteria

The project must show that it targets an unmet medical need, and that it uses a novel approach. A special attention will be given to:

• The current stage and future developments
• Preliminary data
• Work plan

Also, the intellectual property situation, the regulatory context, the market potential and the project risk analysis will be evaluated.

Eligibility

The program is intended to support students who are enrolled at the University of Bordeaux or at associated partners, as well as clinicians and researchers who work in a research unit whose trustee is the University of Bordeaux.

Students are encouraged to submit projects, and the submission must be in collaboration with a co-leader who is a permanent researcher.

From the time the application is submitted, and during all stages of development, the project must involve a leader or co-leader who is working in a research unit whose trustee is the University of Bordeaux. Clinicians who have no links with a research unit are invited to submit a project with a co-leader.

Funding

Financial budget

• A winning project may receive up to €50,000 per year, for a maximum of 2 years. The financial budget awarded and the duration of funding depend on the project
• The budget is managed by the University of Bordeaux

Deliverables and reporting

• Project leaders meet their coach at least once a month. They must participate actively in training sessions, in the monthly meetings with the community of project leaders and experts, and in SPARK Bordeaux events
• Funding is subject to deliverables. The Selection Committee evaluates the deliverables with the project leader, based on the submitted application describing the stages of development, the milestones, and the estimated budget for each stage. If it is determined that the deliverables cannot be provided, funding will stop
• In the context of the regular meetings with the community of project leaders and experts (the SPARKees community), the project leader will present project progress reports, according to a predefined format
• At the end of the first year, the project leader will provide an activity report in a predefined format. Based on the report and the deliverables, the Selection Committee will decide whether funding for the second year should be made available

Eligible expenditure

• The budget will cover operating expenses
• Human resources expenses might be exceptionally eligible, if the project justifies them
• Up to €5,000 can be used to finance the purchase of equipment (N.B. support for the project leader will include information on sources of funding for equipment)

The SPARK program is financially supported by the University of Bordeaux within the framework of the Excellence Initiative (state funding - “Investments for the Future” program).

Intellectual property

SPARK Bordeaux falls under the intellectual property policy (property, protection, exploitation) in force at the research units.

Communication

All communication materials relating to a granted project must follow communication rules defined by the SPARK Bordeaux program.

A project description may be displayed on the SPARK Bordeaux website.

Contact

For any questions relating to the call for projects: spark@u-bordeaux.fr

Application

Applicants must fill in the fields below and upload their project file before May the 2nd, 2019, midnight.

The project file must be signed by the project leader(s) and the Director of the research unit they are working in.

If the project leader is a student, the project file must be signed by the project leader, the co-leader (i.e. the permanent researcher supervising the student) and the Director of the research unit they are working in.

The project file template may be downloaded here.

The fields marked with an asterisk are compulsory.