Type 2 Spark Innovation Challenge 2023

Do you have an idea with potential to spark change for British Columbians living with Type 2 diabetes?

Some of our biggest challenges don’t always require the biggest solutions.

They require a new approach, a smart solution or an innovative collaboration.

Presented by UBC and supported by Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) the Type 2 Diabetes Spark! is an opportunity for new or existing partners to look at the challenge of type 2 diabetes and design innovative solutions for type 2 diabetes prevention, management, and remission.

The purpose of T2 Spark! is to provide a platform for researchers, students, health care providers and people living with or affected by type 2 diabetes to present their unique and innovative ideas for solutions or technologies and to foster collaboration and networking opportunities with industry professionals, academics and individuals with lived experience.

Partners:

Presented by Boehringer Ingelheim, in association with UBC, the BC Diabetes Research Network, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and Interior Health Authority.

The Details:

Proposals will be evaluated by an expert arms-length panel and will Include representatives of BCDRN, award sponsors and people living with type 2 diabetes.

Proposals will be reviewed for innovation, relevance to technology and health outcomes, and feasibility. While each entry can be for one individual or organization, we seek solutions including a diverse partnership including those living with or affected by type 2 diabetes, innovators and entrepreneurs in digital, technology or industry space, health care providers and researchers.

The Competition:

T2 Spark aims to foster innovation in type 2 diabetes by supporting partnerships between university researchers, healthcare practitioners, industry, and/or community organizations.

We will award one grand prize of $15,000 and two runner-up prizes of $5,000 from teams that have an innovative idea, product, or concept in the areas of prevention, treatment, or reversal of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Teams must complete a short online application form.

Winners will be announced at a community event held on September 20 at the Innovation Centre in Downtown Kelowna. The event format is similar to a CBC “Dragon’s Den” where successful proposals will be presented to a panel of judges.

Award funds must be spent within one year and teams are required to submit a final report outlining the achievement of key deliverables upon completion.

Further details on eligibility are provided below.

Funding Available: $25,000

Funding is available for new and emerging projects to address specific challenges, barriers and or inequities among patients living with or affected by type 2 diabetes.

Submitted applications will be evaluated by an expert arms-length panel include representatives of BCDRN and BI; and proposals will be reviewed for innovation, relevance to type 2 diabetes, and feasibility (within one year)

T2D Spark aims to foster innovation in type 2 diabetes by supporting partnerships between university researchers, healthcare practitioners, industry, and/or community organizations.

Teams must complete a short online application form. Winners will be announced at a community event held on September 20 at the Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna. Award funds must be spent within one year and teams are required to submit a final report outlining the achievement of key deliverables upon completion. Further details on eligibility are provided below.

Teams are asked to submit a brief description (500 words, not including the list of references) of their research idea and its potential to transform our approach or thinking related to type 2 diabetes. Please note the emphasis of this competition is the generation of novel, creative ideas. If you are a university researcher, please submit an idea that is not currently being researched or developed in your lab.

Eligibility

The Competition is designed to encourage innovation, identify novel and disruptive ideas, foster collaboration and inspire unique approaches to T2D.

Teams must include participants from at least 2 of the following categories:

1) University Researchers;

2) Licensed Healthcare practitioners (e.g., physician, pharmacist, nurse, registered dietitian, etc.);

3) Private Industry/Technology;

4) Community Organization (e.g., not-for-profit, registered charity); and/or

5) Individuals living with or affected by type 2 diabetes.

For example, your team could include a UBC or UBCO Researcher and a local physician (2 categories) or your team could include a local physician, industry partner, and researcher (3 categories) or your team could include at least one person from all 4 categories.

Teams are encouraged to include persons with lived experience, although this is not an explicit requirement.

One team member must be designated as the lead/principal applicant responsible for communication, administration of funding, and reporting.

At least one of the awards will be given to a team led by a UBC Okanagan researcher that involves an innovation that is of direct relevance to the local (Interior Health Authority) region.

What is a T2D Innovation?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar resulting from deficiencies in the production and action of the hormone insulin. Physical inactivity, excess body weight, and poor dietary habits are major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes disproportionately effects Indigenous peoples, persons of Southeast Asian descent, and individuals of low socioeconomic status. High blood sugars can increase the risk of other health conditions such as heart disease, neuropathy, eye and kidney disease. Innovative ideas related to T2D might include, but are certainly not limited to, i) community healthy living programs; ii) healthy eating strategies; iii) novel technologies to track, monitor, or change type 2 diabetes metrics or risk factors; iv) screening initiatives; v) tailored exercise programs; vi) partnered or interdisciplinary healthcare strategies; and many more.

Please consider the following guidelines when preparing your application:

1. Originality (20%): The application should clearly state the originality of the idea, and demonstrate that it is not currently being researched in the lab or elsewhere. This may involve a brief literature review or patent search to verify that the idea is novel.

2. Relevance and Feasibility (40%): The idea must demonstrate the relevance to the field of type 2 diabetes and how it has the potential to advance prevention, management, and/or improve patient outcomes. The applicants should also ensure that the idea can be implemented at the current state of science/development and not contingent upon future innovations.

3. Clarity (20%): The idea must be clear and concise, outlining the key components of the idea, its objectives, and its potential impact. It should also describe any challenges or limitations that may need to be addressed.

4. Presentation Skills (20%): The pitch should be well-organized and effectively communicated, with clear and concise language.

Application:

Names,

Title/Position,

Category (Researcher, HCP, Industry,

Community Organization, PWLE, checkbox), Contact Info - up to 10

Brief Description of Innovation:

What is it?

Who is involved?

Who is the target audience/user?

Why is it innovative? (500 words)

Outcomes/Deliverables

List up to 3 outcomes/deliverables that will be achieved after 1 year. Acknowledge checkbox that a final report will be submitted within 3 months of project end date.

Theme Checkbox -

Prevention,

Treatment/Management,

Reversal/Remission,

Complications

Location of Innovation

(City where innovation or majority of work will take place)

17:25

Registration Desk Open

17:30

Networking Reception in the Atrium

18:30

T2 Spark Innovation Challenge in the Theatre

20:00

Closing Remarks & Networking