Full Proposal Application


2026 Full Proposal Application

Applications are open.

The following information is for UMass Amherst Principal Investigators who have been invited to submit full proposal applications for Translational Seed Award funding of up to $100,000. Funding for these awards is provided by the Manning/IALS Innovation Program and the U.S. National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation Program (award #2331351), both of which are designed to help advance UMass Amherst translational and applied R&D through the development of startup companies, social impact ventures, out-licensing of UMass IP, or other appropriate vehicles. 

Faculty invited to submit full applications may be asked to join the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (if not already a member). UMass faculty are welcome to join IALS at any time by submitting an IALS membership form found on the IALS website: https://www.umass.edu/ials/about-ials/joining-ials.

Important Information

Dates

  • May 15. 2026, 11:59 p.m. – Letter of Intent Submission is Due
  • June 16, 2026, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.  – Workshop: Translational Seed Award Milestones (registration required)
  • June 18, 2026, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. – Workshop: Translational Seed Award Pitching (registration required)
  • July 1, 2026 – Full Proposal Submission is Due
  • September 2026 – Award decisions

Important Details 

Review this document for important details before you submit your full proposal.

Confidentiality 

In anticipation of external reviewers, do not include any confidential information in the proposal. If you believe inclusion of confidential information is critical to your application, email [email protected] to discuss.

Submissions

Proposals should be submitted electronically through the link provided in the invitation email.

Applications

Invited Applications are due by July 1, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed for the potential to advance the project beyond basic research to address real-world problems and opportunities. This is further defined as:

  • Identification of and commitment to achieving translational milestones
  • A realistic plan to advance the research/technology/creative work towards follow-on funding/resources from investors, grant providers, and/or sales
  • Understanding of and commitment to address the key elements of a commercialization/real-world deployment plan including:
    • Initial conceptualization of product/services candidate(s)
    • Unmet real-world needs and/or opportunities
    • A differentiation plan
    • An intellectual property plan (e.g., patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, licensing)
    • Progress towards forming a spinout/startup team, including external advisers and potential spinout/startup co-founders/founders
    • Resources needed to support development into a self-sufficient/sustainable enterprise.

Each application must contain the following proposal document, submitted as a PDF (7 pages MAX, not counting budget/and appendices):

  • Executive Summary: Project title, team members, abstract, and two-sentence description for a general audience. (1-page max).
  • Long-term (5+ year) viability and impact plan: Briefly describe the mission of what you intend to offer (e.g., product/service candidates), the unmet need/opportunity to be addressed, a differentiation plan, an IP plan, progress towards assembling a startup/spinout team, potential business model(s),and resources needed to support development into a self-sufficient enterprise (1-page max).
  • Project Milestones: High-level objectives including clear identification of the translational milestone(s) you plan to achieve; Project Plan including timeline for translation (for project period and beyond), interim milestones/deliverables and final milestones/deliverables, and how each will contribute to the spinout/commercialization/impact plan (including anticipated next steps) (up to 3 pages)
  • Progress to Date/Preliminary Data: (up to 2 pages inclusive of any figures) including previous proof-of-concept, demonstrations, or prototyping to support translation of the work into commercially viable, and societally impactful products/services.
  • Intellectual Property Strategy: (up to 1 page) Discuss how you will build upon the IP (e.g., patents, copyrights, know-how) you have established/are establishing (as described in the Appendix D) to create a robust IP position going forward.
  • Budget: Must contain the major budget categories, named personnel or timeline for hiring if these are TBD, and a brief justification for each category. See budget guidelines below. (up to 1 page)
  • Appendix A - Other Support: List other current and pending funding by source, grant number, amount start/stop dates, and a summary sentence on specific aims (up to 2 pages, up-to-date NIH or NSF current and pending forms are acceptable)
  • Appendix B - Biosketches/CVs/Résumés: Provide bios for Faculty PI, Research Team Members, Advisors, and/or other/potential startup co-founders (up to 2 pages for each team member, up-to-date NIH or NSF biosketch forms are acceptable)
  • Appendix C - Bibliography: (up to 2 pages)
  • Appendix D - Intellectual Property: List all relevant invention disclosures, provisional patents, patents pending, patents grants, copyrights, and creative works. Indicate the technology licensing officer at the UMass Amherst TTO with whom you work.
  • Appendix E - Up to 3 letters of support (optional): (1 page each)

Each application must also include a 3-Minute Project Pitch (Required)

As part of the Translational Seed Award full proposal process, applicants must submit a 3-minute recorded project pitch summarizing their proposed translational project and its potential for real-world impact.

The purpose of the pitch is to provide reviewers with a concise overview of the project’s problem, proposed solution, and path to translation or commercialization.

Video Pitch Format:

  • Maximum length: 3 minutes
  • Format: Pre-recorded video submission
  • Presenter: The Principal Investigator should deliver the pitch (team members may appear if relevant, but the PI should lead the presentation).
  • Slides: Optional but recommended. If used, limit to 3–4 slides.
  • Confidentiality: The pitch should contain non-confidential information only, as external reviewers may view it.

Suggested Video Pitch Content

  • Applicants should aim to clearly address the following points:
    • The Problem or Opportunity: What unmet need, challenge, or opportunity does the project address?
    • The Proposed Solution: What technology, discovery, or innovation are you developing?
    • Current Progress: What proof-of-concept, data, or prototype supports feasibility?
    • Translational Milestone: What key milestone will this award enable your team to achieve?
    • Impact and Path Forward: How could this project lead to real-world deployment, commercialization, or societal impact?

Recording Guidelines

  • Recordings may be created using PowerPoint, Zoom, or other screen-recording software.
  • The video should clearly show slides and/or the presenter.
  • Audio quality should be clear and understandable.
  • Do not exceed 3 minutes.

Submission

Applicants will upload the video within the application form.

Each application may attach a Pitch Deck (optional): (Up to 6 slides) Provide a non-confidential pitch deck, containing: 

  1. Title slide with a slogan/tagline capturing the potential impact of the project on society and individual stakeholders/customers.  
  2. Problem and/or Opportunity: Describe the nature and extent of the unmet market and/or societal need you plan to address first in your plan for impact beyond the campus.  
  3. Your solution: Describe the solution you envision creating and the foundational work (knowledge, discoveries, inventions, research and/or creative works) upon which it is built.  
  4. Spinout/commercialization/impact: Describe anticipated products, services or other offerings that will implement your solution and explain the plan for moving them into use beyond the campus.  
  5. Team (UMass team, founders, advisors, their expertise and roles) 
  6. Milestone based project plan towards realization of commercialization and societal impact: Outline significant progress to date, plans for the year of funding (including work with complementary programs/resources), and proposed milestones for at least two years following the project, e.g., startup company, fundraising, licensing agreements, new team members, industry and/or stakeholder partnerships.

Budget

Budget Guidelines: Translational Research Seed Awards are catalytic funds, designed to support the translation and development of knowledge, discoveries, inventions and creative works of UMass Amherst researchers and their teams for application to real-world challenges and opportunities. Project budgets will be reviewed for budget appropriateness, alignment and fit with the overall missions of the Manning/IALS Innovation Program and the National Science Foundation Accelerating Research Translation Program, as well as for compliance with all applicable guidelines of the University of Massachusetts. If awarded, the proper fiscal management of the funded project is the responsibility of the Lead PI.

Up to $100,000 direct costs may be requested. Allowable expenses include:

  • Research staff scientist, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate student support, plus associated fringe costs. For graduate student support, please indicate # hours/week and expected semesters.
  • Research faculty salary to cover percent effort towards startup/commercialization efforts, plus associated fringe costs.
  • Supplies and consumable materials
  • UMass Amherst Centralized Core Facilities usage
  • Grant writer/consultant support (e.g., SBIR/STTRs or other vehicles that support commercialization, community engagement, or real-world impact)
  • Graphic design, web development, and marketing communications
  • Travel to industry, stakeholder, customer, user meetings
  • Legal fees (applicants are encouraged to take advantage of free Startup Law Office Hours offered by IALS Venture Development by emailing [email protected]).
  • Other expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Funding for faculty salary (with the exception of research faculty salary) and capital equipment are not allowable expenses.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed for the potential to advance a research idea/project or startup/pre-startup venture toward application to real-world problems on eight major criteria: For more details on each criteria, view the Translational Seed Award Selection Criteria.

  • Potential to Yield a Differentiated Tangible Product or Solution for the End Users/Community within ~2 years
  • Societal Impact
  • Soundness & Technical Merit
  • Realistic Spinout/licensing plan with a clear Business Model
  • Project Milestones & Timeline
  • IP Strategy
  • Project Team Strength & Commitment
  • Budget Appropriateness per Guidelines

Post-Award Requirements

  • Funded Projects for this year’s cycle are expected to begin in October 2026 with the expectation that funds will be expended by January 2028.
  • Engagement in venture development and other spinout efforts: Translational seed funding recipients will be expected to take advantage of resources in support of their spinout/commercialization plans, for example: IALS Venture Development and Business Innovation Fellows teams, I-Corps @ UMass training, Technology Transfer Office support, Accelerating Research Translation programs, and other office hours and workshops.
  • Progress Updates: Funded projects are expected to present quarterly updates in writing and through meetings with the IALS/Accelerating Research Translation team.
  • No-cost Extension: Projects may apply for one no-cost extension of up to six months beyond the initial 12-month project period. Written requests with justifications (template will be provided) must be submitted to the Translational Seed Award team.

Grant Terms & Conditions: Please review the full terms and conditions for this award.