Do you have a promising idea for a drug, vaccine, therapeutic, medical device, or digital health application to address challenges in substance use disorders (excluding alcohol)? Would you like to learn what it takes to bring your idea to market?
If yes, theInnovations for Substance Use Disorders (I4SUD) is the program for you! Don’t miss this opportunity to take your research to the next level by bridging the gap between academia and entrepreneurship and make a lasting impact on substance use disorders.
What is I4SUD?
I4SUD is an executive education certificate program offered to select applicants for free through Johns Hopkins Carey Business School (JHU CBS). The program will enroll 30 researchers who are motivated to solve challenges related to substance use disorders (SUDs). During the program, participants will work individually or with their team to assess if their pharmaceutical, digital health, or medical device-related inventions can be transformed into innovations to address challenges in SUDs. I4SUD combines asynchronous and synchronous online activities; a multi-day sponsored trip to JHU CBS in Baltimore, MD, for workshops led by world-class faculty, visits to operational SUD programs, networking/community building, including meeting NIDA program officers, and the development of a commercialization plan to make participants competitive for follow-on funding opportunities including but not limited to the NIDA-supported “$100,000 Start a SUD Startup” Challenge, and SBIR and STTR grant programs. Participants who complete the program also have the opportunity to win a cash prize through a pitch competition and will earn a Certificate of Completion from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Office of Executive Education.
Who is eligible to participate?
Researchers at any stage in their careers (graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, faculty, etc.) who have ideas but have not yet received translational grants such as SBIR or STTR. Those who have previously attended the Yale Innovation to Impact Program, Babson SUD-Sprint program, or the MIT Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Biomedical Product Development for SUDs may apply but priority will be given to participants who have not participated in any of these programs.
Why choose the I4SUD program over other similar programs?
- Our team comprises multidisciplinary faculty and experts from business and entrepreneurship and substance use disorders.
- Our participants get the opportunity to do first-hand market research by visiting operational clinics and organizations that serve persons with substance use disorders to meet with staff and patients to understand the unmet needs they are solving and the people whose lives they’ll be impacting.
- All participants who complete the program receive a certificate of completion from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Office of Executive Education.
- The winner of our pitch competition receives a cash prize!
How much does it cost?
The program is fully funded by NIDA and is completely free (including all travel-related costs) for any participant located at a US-based institution. At this time, we are unable to provide support for non-US-based applicants.
Where can I apply?
Applications are open now until June 30, 2024. It is a 2-step application: once you fill out the interest form at this link, you will receive an email with a link to complete the full application. The application will ask for basic information about your professional and entrepreneurial experience, to upload your academic CV, and for short essays (200-300 words) on your commercialization project idea and career goals.
When will I find out if I am accepted?
Participants will know of their acceptance by mid-July, 2024.
What are the program expectations?
To earn the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Executive Education Certificate of Completion, participants must
- Attend four full days in person in Baltimore, MD (October 1 – October 4, 2024)
- Attend three virtual sessions, 1.5hrs each (12 PM – 1:30 PM ET, September 23, October 9, and October 23, 2024)
- Attend at least two 30min office hour sessions with mentors or instructors to work on pitches (participants will be able to sign up for slots between Noon and 1:30 PM ET on October 16, October 30 and, November 6, 2024)
- Engage in 3-4hrs per week of asynchronous learning activities between September 23 and November 15, 2024, and spend time on research to develop their pitch (dependent on participant idea and stage)
- Attend and pitch in the virtual pitch competition from 1 PM – 4 PM ET on November 15, 2024