Innovation Grants Program

Geographic Scope: New Jersey

Focus Areas: Early-stage health-related research and technologies with strong market potential and commercialization potential, including:

• Medical devices
• Cancer treatments and therapeutics
• Dementia detection
• Alcohol use disorder treatments
• Diabetes research
• Intraocular disease treatments
• Insect repellents for global health
• Allergic inflammation research

Eligible Institutions: Researchers and students at FHA's affiliated partner institutions:

• Cooper University HealthCare
• Hackensack Meridian Health
• Kessler Foundation
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
• Princeton University
• Rowan University
• Rutgers University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Virtua Health

Funding Purpose: Support for proof-of-concept work, data collection, prototyping, and further development of early-stage technologies to make them more commercially attractive.

What Can Be Funded: Direct program costs only

What Cannot Be Funded:

• Overhead costs
• Tuition
• Indirect costs

Support Beyond Funding: FHA provides mentoring and direction to researchers on business processes, proof of concept, and commercialization strategies.

Track Record: Over 30 projects funded since inception. Three innovation grants led to company formation through Foundation Venture Capital Group affiliate:

• Kayothera, Inc.
• Oculomotor Technologies, Inc.
• NemaGen Discoveries, Inc.
• Zena Therapeutics
• Evaluate Diagnostics

Recent Active Grants Include:

• Body Cavity Evacuator (D. Shersher, MD, Cooper University HealthCare)
• Wearable Cardiac Monitor (R. Hirsch, MD, Cooper University HealthCare)
• Analgesia without Addiction (T. Keck, PhD, Rowan University)
• TRACHAlert Device (S. Shady, PhD, Stevens Institute of Technology)
• Antegrade Artery Entry Device (J. Carpenter, MD, Cooper University HealthCare)
• Articulating 360 Degree Forceps (S. Giordano, MD, Cooper University HealthCare)

Application Process

Specific application procedures and required materials are not detailed on the website. For application information:

• Contact FHA directly through their website contact form for:
  • Application requirements and deadlines
  • Submission procedures
  • Required documentation
  • Specific narrative or proposal guidelines