FY25 Translational Research Grant (TRG) Cycle 2

The Translational Research Grant (TRG) program, offered by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech), is designed to advance early-stage university-held life sciences inventions with commercial potential. Aimed at researchers within North Carolina universities and non-profit research institutions, the TRG program supports projects that demonstrate a clear transition from basic scientific discoveries to product-oriented development efforts. These projects must address real-world challenges within the life sciences sector and show a path toward commercialization. The TRG seeks to bridge the gap between foundational research and marketable products by facilitating milestone-driven, team-based projects with clearly defined success criteria. The TRG program is structured to provide up to $130,000 in base funding, with an additional supplement of up to $14,000 available to support the mandatory inclusion of a qualified project manager. The total project period may span up to 24 months. Importantly, no match is required unless a single equipment request exceeds $25,000, in which case a 25% cash match must be provided. NCBiotech explicitly excludes any funding for indirect or overhead costs, reinforcing its focus on direct project execution. Funds may be allocated for salaries of technical personnel (excluding students), lab supplies, equipment, and certain business case development activities. Eligibility is limited to North Carolina universities and non-profit research organizations. The Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty position, or an equivalent research-focused appointment. At the time of submission, the PI must also ensure that the intellectual property related to the proposed project has been disclosed to their institution’s technology transfer office, and remains unlicensed and uncommitted to any third-party entities. The project team must consist of a PI, a Project Manager, a Technology Transfer Officer, and an End User; an optional Business Case Advisor may also be included. The project manager must be independent of the PI’s lab and not have any financial ties to other team members. The End User provides a critical market validation perspective, confirming product-market fit and assisting in defining required specifications. Applicants must submit a comprehensive written proposal and a recorded 15-minute pitch presentation, both of which are evaluated in parallel. Reviewers assess proposals based on team effectiveness, the translational stage of the project, scientific design, feasibility, defined milestones, market potential, and the likelihood of commercialization success. Funding is disbursed in three tranches (50%-40%-10%) based on milestone achievement. Awarded projects will undergo structured oversight, including a kickoff meeting, quarterly written reports by the project manager, milestone-triggered fund release meetings, and final technical and financial reporting. The application deadline for the FY2026 Cycle 2 is noon on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Applicants must register in the Fluxx portal at least five days before the deadline. Submission components include a signed cover sheet, team composition form, project narrative, budget package, supporting documents, and the pitch video. Notification of awards is expected by June 15, 2026, with projects beginning no earlier than July 1, 2026. The TRG program is recurring, and applicants are advised to consult the NCBiotech website for updates and to participate in optional pre-submission consultations.

Design concrete milestones; Engage qualified project managers; Demonstrate market validation early.