Funding Opportunities: Commercialization

The University of Toronto and local commercialization community offer multiple programs, competitions, resources, and services to help researchers and trainees at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy translate their discoveries into commercial ventures. Please contact a member of the Research Office for more information (Mike Folinas, Sam D’Alfonso, or Lia Cardarelli).

Commercialization Resources

Commercialization Opportunities

BII Bio Studio Program – Brain Health Challenge Call

The Bio Studio Program supports entrepreneurial academic researchers in translating their science into innovative products and solutions. Projects joining the Bio Studio program will establish a team that will reside at BII and get unique access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and office space. Throughout the program, the projects will take part in a vibrant entrepreneurial community where they work alongside like-minded peers. To guide project progression towards ultimately spinning out a company, a dedicated BII 'anchor' is handpicked for each project based on competencies and knowledge.

The Bio Studio Program is a unique funding instrument. Tailored to entrepreneurial Principal Investigators that develop technologies with platform potential and a clear therapeutic application.

Funding: The program offers funding of up to DKK 5.35m per year (EUR ~0.72m) up to three years. Access to in-kind support
Project Team & Incubation: The team will be hired at BII and gain access to state-of-the-art facilities in Copenhagen. An Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) drives company creation while the PI remains at their home institution as scientific advisor.
Program Content: Maturation of scientific innovation. Access to BII’s acceleration platform, network (e.g., 200+ VCs), and community events.
Intellectual Property (IP): Existing IP is not required. All IP generated during the project will remain at the home institution. However, project-related IP must be licensable to the future spin-out company on market terms.

A summary of the Brain Health Challenge is attached (or online here), and further details about the Bio Studio Program can be found in the Guidelines. The initial application process consists of a short two-pager (Expression of Interest) to be submitted via our ATLAS online portal.

The deadline to submit the Expression of Interest is May 4, 2026.

Please send an email to IPO of your intent to apply at your earliest convenience: innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca

The My Research Applications record (MRA) to allow sufficient time for departmental approval and administrative review by IPO ahead of the sponsor deadline noted above.

Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation Fuel program

Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) Fuel program offers up to $500,000 CAD and acceleration services to help early- to mid-stage researchers and start-up companies achieve research, development, and validation milestones.

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), powered by Baycrest, is now accepting applications for the Fuel program, designed to remove common barriers that stall innovative solutions which have the potential to transform the aging experience.

CABHI’s Fuel program will accept applications in two funding streams, though U of T is only eligible for Stream B of the program

Stream B: Healthcare and Research Organizations (HCROs)

HCROs can apply for up to $500,000 CAD in non-dilutive funding from CABHI. CABHI’s funding will be released in tranches aligned with the specific milestone(s). If selected, the funding will be administered to their host institution throughout the project in alignment with the completion of mutually agreed-upon research, development, or validation milestones. HCROs must be affiliated with an accredited Canadian academic institution, recognized research institution, or healthcare organization. HCROs must also be creating and validating intellectual property that is not assigned to or owned by a for-profit company. The intellectual property must be owned by the HCRO, the Institution, or a combination of the two (in accordance with the Institution’s technology transfer office intellectual property policies).

For more information regarding the application process and program eligibility, please visit the CABHI Fuel program webpage.

Important Dates:

Applications Open	March 6, 2026
Applications Close	April 15, 2026
Shortlist Notification	April 27, 2026
Due Diligence Process	April 27 - May 22, 2026
Applicant Notification	June 8, 2026
Start Date	July 1, 2026

UofT Internal Deadline:

Please send an email to IPO of your intent to apply at your earliest convenience: innovations.partnerships@utoronto.ca
The applicant must also upload and submit the application through the university's My Research Application (MRA) System at least one week prior to the sponsor's deadline.

Intellectual Property Education Program

UofT’s IP Education Program introduces the different types of IP, how to protect it, and how to get the most value from it.

The online program was built by UofT Entrepreneurship (UTE) and the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) with input from legal professionals and entrepreneurs.

Divided into two complimentary levels, IP Foundations and IP Strategy and Application, the program is integrated with Quercus (U of T’s online learning portal), allowing for inclusion into assignments, workshops, or classroom settings. In addition, U of T students who complete a module can have it recognized on their Co-curricular Record (CCR).

Program overview:

Level 1: IP Foundations

Intro to patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial design, and trade secrets.
Requires no prior knowledge and can be completed in ~2 hours.
Endorsed by the Province of Ontario’s IP Action Plan.

Level 2: IP Strategy and Application

IP strategy and commercialization, including best practices for inventors and entrepreneurs.

Learners must complete Level 1 before advancing to Level 2.

Intellectual Property: Protect, License and Fund with IPO

The Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) is your first stop for research commercialization at U of T. IPO helps turn innovations into patents, licenses, and startups, building successful relationships between researchers, industry, and investors.

What you need to know:

It starts with a disclosure: If a new technology, method, or product was created using U of T facilities or funding administered by U of T, a Confidential Invention Disclosure is your first step toward commercializing your research.
Ownership: U of T has a modern, flexible invention policy that is ‘Inventor’s Choice’ – in absence of pre-existing IP rights, inventors may choose to take personal ownership, or have U of T lead commercialization.
Intellectual property (IP) and patents: While there are many types of IP, patents may be affected by presenting and publishing. It is best to involve IPO early to help review, file, and protect your invention.
Funding: IPO can help maximize budgets by licensing technologies and leveraging internal, public, and private funding opportunities for research and startups.
Network: Access U of T’s growing international network of industry, mentors, and VCs to support technology validation, product development, and go-to-market.

In 2021, U of T inventors made over 180 invention disclosures, with IPO managing 74 priority patent applications, more than 39 licensing and option agreements, and 290 ongoing commercialization projects. In the last 5 years, companies based on U of T Research have secured more than $1.5 billion in investment and capital.

Learn more and get started @ uoft.me/inventors

Inventor Portal

The Inventor Portal is the university’s new platform for submitting and managing invention disclosures.

Moving forward, all new invention disclosures must be submitted through the Inventor Portal. As part of this launch, paper-based disclosure forms will no longer be accepted after April 24th, 2026.

Why this benefits you:

Faster processing and review of disclosures
Real-time tracking of submission status
Secure, organized record-keeping of innovation activity

Access the Inventor Portal here:

https://inventor.research.utoronto.ca/InteumWeb/inventorportal/login.aspx

More information on the Invention Disclsoure Process is here:

https://research.utoronto.ca/inventions-commercialization-entrepreneurship/disclose-invention

For questions or support with the portal, please contact Lilia Smale at lilia.smale@utoronto.ca or 416-978-4521.

Lab2Market Discover

Are you interested in exploring the market viability of your research? As a researcher in emerging technologies, you may be considering an alternative career path beyond academia. With Lab2Market Discover, you’ll learn a new way of thinking and determine if you have a passion for business.

Lab2Market Discover’s online exploratory program helps you explore entrepreneurship and the potential of transforming your academic research into a world-changing tech-focused business.

Lab2Market Discover is offered free of cost and is open to current students and recent graduates in Canada pursuing research (Masters, Ph.D., and Postdoc). The program is tailored for individuals interested in understanding the necessary steps to commercialize research and determining whether entrepreneurship is a path they can or should pursue. Designed specifically for researchers completing their studies full-time, the program includes online readings, practical assignments, and interactive webinars, with a maximum time commitment of three hours per week.

Lab2Market Discover is run nationally and runs various cohorts throughout the year, check out the website to find the program for you.

OCI Life Sciences Innovation Fund

Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) Life Sciences Innovation Fund is an early-stage co-investment fund that supports companies in Life Sciences and Healthcare Technologies sectors related to human health. The fund is aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by life sciences entrepreneurs moving innovative and capital-intensive investments from a conceptual stage through to commercialization. Through the fund, OCI co-invests with angel and other investors to help de-risk the opportunity, assisting start-ups in becoming investor and customer ready and allowing them to attract follow-on investment.

ABOUT THE FUND

Eligible companies will receive up to $500,000 in early stage risk capital to scale their made-in-Ontario health solution both at home and in global markets. This will further grow the sector and strengthen its competitiveness in key areas such as cancer treatment, regenerative medicine, neuroscience and medical technologies.

BEST SUITED FOR LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES COMPANIES RELATED TO HUMAN HEALTH THAT:

Are Ontario or Canadian incorporated for-profit companies headquartered in Ontario
Currently raising a pre-seed or seed investments (total round sizes ranging from $1 million to $5 million)
Have raised less than $3 million in third-party capital

Learn more.

SRIC x Mitacs x OCI - Innovation Challenge - Update

SRIC/Mitacs/OCI Innovation Challenge: Life Science Focus

Update: Please note that this initiative will now take place on May 6, 2026 (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM), rather than April as per the previous communications.

The Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, in partnership with Mitacs and the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) invites University of Toronto researchers to participate in a matchmaking initiative on May 6, 2026 (11am-2pm) to connect with Ontario-based life science startups and scaleups and catalyze partnered research projects.

With a focus on life science, participating companies are seeking academic expertise in the following subjects:

Pulmonary rehabilitation, respiratory physiotherapy, biomedical sensing integration
Miniaturizing digital microfluidics platforms (hardware & electrical engineering)
Regenerative medicine, stem cells and allografts
Validating novel biomarkers to measure cognitive function (neuropsychology & cognitive science)
Clinical validation of topical skincare formulations & digital diagnostic tools (dermatology)
Clinical validation of hereditary genetic condition diagnostic software
Advancing data standards for pedigrees and family histories (health informatics)
In vitro human organoid or non-human primate primary cell studies of synthetic promoters
Validation/optimization of AAV vector yields within HEK cell-based biomanufacturing

To learn more about each participating company and innovation challenge, please view this supporting document.

U of T researchers are invited to register for this matchmaking event, where you'll learn about each company and their respective innovation challenge, and have an opportunity to discuss in person with their teams. Projects arising from this event may be eligible for funding programs such as OCI’s Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C) or Mitacs.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday May 6, 2026
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm EST. Light lunch provided.
Location: Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, 108 College St., Toronto, 7th Floor Winter Garden

To learn more and register, please complete this form at your earliest convenience, as space is limited to ensure high-quality matchmaking.
Please contact Hayley McKay (hayley.mckay@utoronto.ca) if you have any questions.

Target ALS - In Vivo Target Validation

Target ALS provides support for in vivo proof-of-concept for promising therapeutics in mouse models of ALS. We have partnered with the contract research organization Biospective to enable evaluation of novel therapeutics for target engagement and disease-modifying potential in ALS. Test articles – small molecules, biologics, gene therapy, or antisense oligonucleotides – are provided by the investigator.

This grant will allow you to evaluate the effect of modulating a candidate therapeutic target on the ALS phenotypes in a TDP-43 mouse model. Biospective has implemented a modified, slower progressing (months) version of the rNLS8 (or ΔNLS) model that was originally developed at the University of Pennsylvania (Walker et al., 2015). In the Biospective version, the mice are switched from the Dox diet to a standard diet for a short period and then maintained on a lower Dox protocol developed by Biospective (“Low Dox” model). Phenotypes including motor neuron degeneration and regional brain atrophy, cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 and phosphorylated TDP-43 aggregates, motor deficits, and brain, spinal cord, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) pathology. Please refer to this slide deck for a complete understanding of the model, phenotypes, and readouts. Confidentiality of investigator’s data, research, and intellectual property will be strictly honored. Target ALS does not seek ownership of any intellectual property or financial gains that result because of its funding. All data generated from studies will be shared with Target ALS for internal quality control purposes

Results from these studies have the potential to catapult ALS drug candidates from preclinical to clinical pipelines, accelerating development of novel therapeutics. All proposals are reviewed by the Target ALS Independent Review Committee.

Who Should Apply

Academic or industry investigators
No prior or current receipt of funding from Target ALS is required or exclusion criteria
All proposals will be evaluated independently of prior or current Target ALS funding
Applications must demonstrate test article safety (at planned dose) in animal studies and must include brain penetrance data to be considered
Applicants must have test article in-hand for August 2026 for shipment to Biospective

Funding

This is an in-kind grant. No funding will be provided directly to the investigator. Target ALS will cover costs of approved projects to be conducted at Biospective. There are several options for study design and readout, with a maximum of 45 mice. Please refer to this slide deck for comprehensive information about study design options.

Funded groups must enter into a standard, Target ALS-approved, non-negotiable Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with Biospective. A copy of this MTA can be provided to applicants upon request.

Dates

Proposals are due by April 20, 2026.
Decisions will be announced by June 30, 2026
Testing begins August 31, 2026

Application

If you are interested, please Apply for this grant

Additional Information

Additional information can be found here: In Vivo Target Validation - Target ALS. For more details from the sponsor, please contact us.

UofT Research Security Self-Assessment Tool

The Division of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the Research Security Self-Assessment tool.

Before applying for federal or provincial research funding, researchers are strongly encouraged to use this tool to help them identify research security policies that may be applicable to their project.

Researchers applying for research funding or requesting non-funded agreements may access this tool directly from the Research Security web page or via a new page in My Research Applications & Agreements (MRA). The new page in MRA provides helpful resources and does not collect new information for your application/agreement.

If you have questions, U of T’s Research Security Team is here to help you navigate research security requirements for funding applications and non-funded agreements. For assistance, please contact them early in your application process at researchsecurity@utoronto.ca.

UTEST 2026 APPLICATIONS - DUE May 14th, 2026

University of Toronto Early Stage Technology Program (UTEST) Applications

The submission deadline is Thursday, May 14th, 2026.

The UTEST Program applications are now open to research-based U of T and affiliated teaching hospital companies. UTEST provides eligible companies with incubation space at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, intensive entrepreneurial education provided by MaRS, corporate and intellectual property legal assistance, as well as mentoring and business strategy support. In addition, investment-ready companies in the program may receive up to a $150,000 investment from UTEST. Our program partner, TIAP, provides sector expertise, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program and follow-on investment capital of up to $1M.

With funding support from Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) for the 2026/27 cohort, up to 30 UTEST companies will receive up to $10,000 per team in milestone-based funding for company-building activities.

Since 2012, UTEST companies have raised over $1B+ in investment funding. UTEST was ranked amongst the top 10 accelerators in Canada in 2021.

Essential Information and Timelines:

Full program information and application can be found on the UTEST program page: http://www.utest.to
Applications are due before 11:59 PM EST on Thursday May 14th, 2026: http://utest.to/apply/
Selected companies will be interviewed the week of May 25th, 2026.
The program will begin the week of June 8th, 2026.

More questions? Contact samantha.goodspeed@utoronto.ca