Coulter Process
The Coulter Program has multiple stages
Preliminary proposals
Preliminary proposals are due on February 28. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with the Coulter Program Director prior to preliminary proposal submission to explore the fit for Coulter support and funding. Please email Thomas Marten, Managing Director, Coulter Program (tmarten@umich.edu) to set up a meeting.
Up to 10 teams will be selected to pitch at an Initial Review meeting with the Coulter Oversight Committee (OC) in early April (Date TBD)
Initial Review Meeting
At this meeting, teams will give 10-minute proposal presentations followed by 10-minute Q&A . Up to 8 teams will be selected for presentation at the Selection Meeting in June. The OC and Coulter team will provide comments and questions for teams to address by the time of the Selection Meeting. Answers to these questions will support funding decisions and assist teams with refinement of translational research plans to strengthen proposals.
Proposal Support Program:
Teams selected for presentation at the Selection meeting will be invited to participate in the Proposal Support Program (PSP). The Coulter team will develop a tailored plan under the PSP to address OC comments and questions, and guide proposal refinement in accordance with findings to improve both Coulter funding probability and prospects for generating follow-on-funding after Coulter.
Participation in this program is optional but encouraged.
A tailored program will be created that provides a deep-dive assessment of a project’s commercial viability and seeks to address questions raised during the Initial Review meeting. Based on the needs of each project, competitive landscape assessments and primary market research will be conducted as needed. The PSP may also include industry mentor feedback, Coulter Oversight Committee guidance, introductions to industry business development teams, and new product strategic planning guidance. PSP deliverables will include development of a briefing document for the OC addressing OC questions and concerns raised during the Initial Review meeting, suggestions for the envisioned target product profile, and refinement of milestones and budget as needed. Funding in the range of $15,000 will be allocated to support each project in the PSP.
Project Selection Meeting:
Project funding will be awarded at the Selection Meeting in mid-June (Date TBD). Teams invited to the Selection meeting will submit final proposals and budgets prior to the Selection meeting and will give 10-minute proposal presentations followed by 10-minute Q&A.
We anticipate up to 8 teams will receive funding at the selection meeting in June.
Funding:
Funding will be used to execute a strategic plan with research milestones that reduce technical risks and increase the likelihood of the project attracting further translational research/commercialization funding. Projects are funded for 1-year time periods with funding levels ranging from $30k to $150k range based on the project needs to meet the milestones.