IBRI and Roche Diagnostics Announce Quantum Leap Award for Life Science Startup

The Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI), a leading translational research organization, is pleased to announce the launch today of its new Quantum Leap Award in partnership with its inaugural sponsor, Roche Diagnostics.

“The IBRI is proud to partner with Roche on this innovative award,” said Alan Palkowitz, PhD, president and CEO of the IBRI. “This competition is about more than access to lab space. It’s about enabling the best science to leap forward and catalyze scientific innovation through access to state-of-the-art capabilities and collaboration.”

The winner of the Quantum Leap Award will receive up to two wet lab biology benches rent free for one calendar year, use of desks in co-working space with conference room access, and participation in the IBRI’s AXIS Mentoring Program, as well as a cash prize of $50,000 to support research.

The Quantum Leap Awardee will also gain access to shared equipment in the IBRI labs and will have the opportunity to use the IBRI’s Dr. August M. Watanabe Drug Discovery Laboratory; access group pricing for license of drug discovery platforms (e.g., Schrodinger Suite of Tools, CDD Vault), and lab supplies; and partner with the IBRI to collaborate with its scientific capabilities:

• Small molecule or antibody drug discovery platforms.
• Enabling technologies (e.g., bioinformatics and computational biology and advanced cellular pharmacology).
• iPSC technology.

“As a world leader in healthcare research and development, we strive to bring cutting-edge diagnostic solutions to patients across the United States,” said Hany Moselhi, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Roche Diagnostics North America. “We also know, we’re not in this alone. There are entrepreneurs who have ideas for life-changing diagnostics or treatments but are facing challenges. This award will provide support to help accelerate those ideas from concept to clinical practice.”

Startups with a primary focus on therapeutics or diagnostics relating to neurodegenerative and neuromuscular research, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are preferred, while those with oncology or immunology areas of focus will be considered. Candidates from underrepresented backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply.

Applications, which are available at www.indianabiosciences.org/quantum-leap-award, are open now through early fall. The top three applicants will be notified and asked to give a virtual presentation in the fall with a winner being announced in November 2023. The Quantum Leap Awardee will move in to the IBRI’s incubator space by Jan. 1, 2024.