scientist works at the bench with slide and microscope

Rocky Mountain REACH

Eligibility & Application Process

  • Principal Investigators (PIs) must meet the eligibility requirements outlined by their academic institution. For example, PIs from the 91次元 must meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the Office of Sponsored Programs at UM.

    RMT-REACH Pilot Awards are open to faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate and graduate students affiliated with an academic institution in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming.

    Students and postdoctoral researchers must identify a faculty sponsor. Collaborators from non-academic institutions are eligible to apply with an eligible Principal Investigator. 

    Cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams are encouraged to apply. 

  • Interested parties must submit a brief preapplication through the online portal provided in the Research Funding Announcement (RFA). Preapplications are reviewed for eligibility and program fit. PIs of projects deemed eligible and within the scope of the REACH program are invited to submit a full application. Information about REACH program scope is included in the RFA. 

    After being invited to submit a full application, RMT-REACH hosts a workshop series for applicants that is aimed at developing a REACH application and preparing the project for commercialization. PIs also have the opportunity to connect with the REACH team during the application period to discuss their application/project. 

    All applicants are required to participate in the Project Pitch sessions, which are 10-minute presentations followed by 20 minutes of discussion between applicants and the RMT-REACH Executive Committee and External Review Board. The Project Pitch sessions take place after the submission of applications and will be held on May 29-30, 2025. Applicants are expected to participate in their session on one of those days. 

  • Technologies already licensed or optioned to a company are not eligible.

Product Types

  • Projects must be within a few actionable steps of a commercial transaction with strong indications of commercial interest. Successful applicants will already have convincing, reproducible proof-of-concept data (including strong prototype or in vivo efficacy data) as well as early market analysis and an understanding of the customer base.

  • The project's intellectual property must be owned or otherwise assigned to an academic institution in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming. 

    The project's innovation(s) must be at pre-company or licensing stage. 

    Technologies already optioned or licensed to a company are not eligible.

    It is strongly recommended that PIs discuss their project with their institution's Technology Transfer Office prior to applying. 

Award Program & Expectations

  • In addition to up to $50,000 in direct costs, RMT-REACH Pilot Awardees receive comprehensive support to help move innovations to market, including project management, mentorship, business development assistance, and regulatory guidance. 

    Applicants that are invited to move beyond the preapplication phase will participate in the RMT-REACH bootcamp, aimed at assisting with application preparation and advancing commercialization aspects of each project. Workshop topics include Addressing Unmet Need, Identifying Market Potential, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, and Project Pitch.

    After each stage of application evaluation, applicants will receive their project feedback from the RMT-REACH Executive Committee and External Review Board, and the NIH's Technology Guidance Committee (TGC). These groups are made up of industry and subject-matter experts; the TGC includes representatives from FDA, NIGMS, NCI, and other NIH ICs. 

  • During the application period, applicants will develop an RMT-REACH Project Plan to be included in their application. Applicants will also prepare and present a Project Pitch for the Executive Committee and External Review Board. The Project Pitch sessions will take place on May 29 & 30, 2025, applicants are expected to present their Pitch on one of those days. 

    Upon receiving a Pilot Award, awardees will meet with RMT-REACH Project Management team to finalize the Project Plan milestones and activities, incorporating applicable evaluation feedback. The final Project Plan will be used to determine the amount of funding awarded (up to $50,000 in direct costs). During the project period, awardees will meet with their Project Manager at least once per month to update progress toward each milestone. A progress report will be submitted halfway through the project period and a final report will be submitted at the end of the project. 

  • The Project Plan and budget included in each application are the basis for determining the final award amount. Once the final projects have been selected by the Executive Committee, each project team will be assigned a Project Manager who will review the proposed activities, milestones, and budgets. Review will be based upon fit within the scope of the REACH program and achievability within the project period and budget. The Project Manager and REACH leadership may propose to add or eliminate activities/milestones where they see appropriate, however, this process is above all a discussion between REACH  and the project team to ensure that the project moves forward during the award period. Once the REACH and project teams have finalized the milestones, activities, and budget, the final award amount will be distributed.

Still have questions?

Book a call with an RMT-REACH Team member to review your project.