In January, the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) announced a call for FY 2012 pre-proposals for their Innovation Grant program. Over 300 multidisciplinary teams responded producing a 50 percent response increase over the past year. CIMIT is a clinically-based consortium of Boston-area hospitals and engineering schools and supports translational research by multidisciplinary teams for medical devices and clinical technology system applications.
The CIMIT Innovation Grants program supports early stage, collaborative research projects to improve patient care by emphasizing devices, procedures, diagnosis, and the delivery of healthcare to wounded warriors, veterans, and civilian patients.
One hundred fifty five pre-proposals have been selected to advance to the full proposal stage and to compete for the grants up to $100,000. Of the 155 pre-proposals selected various topics were included:
• Innovations in neurohealth—over one-third of the proposed projects offer innovative technologies and approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders and injuries
• Efficiencies in the delivery of care—one third of the submissions addressed how to advance the CIMIT Integrated Clinical Environments initiative. The submissions were focused on integrating clinical workflow redesign with innovative technologies, medical device interoperability, using clinical simulation to enhance the safety and efficiency of clinical care, and ways to provide improved decision support for clinicians at the point-of-care
• Solutions for wounded warriors—nearly two thirds of the pre proposals that were invited to compete in the final review process have direct relevance to improving care for the injured soldier. Some of the pre-proposals provided novel approaches to improve care on the battlefield, during evacuation, and in trauma care settings. Other projects would benefit veterans during rehabilitation and in managing chronic conditions for both the military and civilian populations
All applicants have been notified of the review decision. The full proposals are due March 31, 2011 but will only be accepted from individuals whose pre-proposals have been approved and have been invited to submit a full proposal.
For more information, email Elaine Richardson, Director for Strategic Communications & Marketing at emrichardson@partners.org or call (617) 643-3847.
