Chancellor’s Translational Research Initiative

Preparing UIC innovations for future funding and licensing opportunities.

The CTRI program provides up to $25,000 to help prepare early stage projects for licensing and startup opportunities. Successful completion of the CTRI program prepares projects for future funding opportunities that support commercialization. The program is managed in partnership with the Office of Technology Management.

  • 67 CTRI projects funded

  • $ 1.90 M Total funding awarded

CTRI Projects Heading link

CTRI is a critical component of UIC’s innovation pipeline and has been instrumental in helping researchers prove the viability of their ideas and commercialize new technologies.

CTRI supports the development of disruptive technologies across a wide range of areas – from therapeutics and medical devices to engineering technologies. Successful completion of the CTRI program often leads to additional funding opportunities and enables UIC researchers to continue towards commercialization.

 

CTRI Recipients

Project Proposals Heading link

Interested in applying for CTRI funding? Specific details for submitting a proposal are below. Apply by March 18, 2024.

Projects should be focused on UIC innovations with high commercialization potential. Project proposals should address how achieving identified project milestones will advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), resulting in novel intellectual property that can be licensed to an industry partner or to an investor-backed startup company. Proposals should also address how the project will prepare the technology for future funding opportunities such as the Proof of Concept Award Program.

The CTRI program provides up to $25,000 per project. Awardees have four months to complete their projects and reach key milestones directed towards deciding whether the research should progress further or a different path should be explored.

Applicants must be full-time UIC faculty, staff, or researchers with dedicated research space and resources. Proposals should either have an invention disclosure on file with the Office of Technology Management (OTM) or the project must result in an invention disclosure at completion. Forms and instructions on disclosing a technology can be found here: OTM Submit Your Idea. Please contact a technology manager with any questions.

  • Awarded funds may not be used to cover salary expenses (with the exception of graduate assistant or graduate hourly salaries for students working directly on the approved CTRI project).

To apply, investigators must submit an application.

Applications must include the following and should not exceed three pages:

  • Problem Statement – Describe your proposed project. What is the problem being solved? How does your proposal uniquely solve this problem?
  • Impact – How will your idea change the world? What is your big picture vision?
  • Research Plan – Describe your hypothesis and the objectives of your project. How will you achieve these objectives? What approach will you take?
  • Milestone – Identify a singular milestone to complete during the 4-month project period.
  • Proposed Budget – Provide a breakdown of project expenses and the rationale for each.

Applications are reviewed by an internal committee composed of faculty representatives from all major colleges from which proposals are received. Applications are evaluated based on technological merit, commercial market attractiveness, and the feasibility of completing the project within the requested budget and timeframe. The number of awardees is based on the level of funding available.

A full list of application requirements are available here.