Event Type : Pathways Newsletter Events

Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is accepting nominations for the 2026 New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award, which provides early-career scientists with funding to launch successful research careers.

This award supports tenure-track faculty within three years of appointment and within eight years of receiving their Ph.D., enabling recipients to focus exclusively on innovative research addressing critical food and agriculture challenges. Each award provides up to $150,000 per year for three years (totaling $450,000), with no matching funds required.

Nominations are due by March 18, 2026. To submit a nomination and learn more about eligibility, click here.

Biolocity is hosting B2M Talks: Pitch Perfect, a virtual session focused on helping founders and researchers develop effective pitch decks for investment, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.

The session will cover the essential components of a strong pitch deck, including how to communicate complex scientific ideas clearly, design compelling visuals, and craft a narrative that resonates with investors and decision-makers. Participants will gain practical guidance and examples that can be immediately applied to improve their presentations.

This opportunity is intended for entrepreneurs, researchers, and professionals in the life sciences and biotech sectors looking to strengthen their communication and fundraising strategies.

The event will take place on March 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.. To register, click here.

Join Wolf Greenfield and FPA Patent Attorneys for a live, interactive Q&A session on how to protect medical technology IP across key global markets, including the US and Australia. The panelists will address what you can and cannot do in different jurisdictions, common pitfalls that put valuable patents at risk, and practical steps you can take now to better safeguard your innovations internationally.

The event will take place Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 form 5:00-6:00PM ET. To register for the event, click here.

University of Massachusetts Lowell is accepting applications for the UMass Lowell Innovative Fellows Training Program (LIFT), a paid experiential training program designed to help early-career scientists develop entrepreneurship and commercialization skills in the aging and longevity research space.

The semester-long program provides graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with training in competitive analysis, regulatory and reimbursement strategy, intellectual property, venture financing, and other core biotech business topics. Fellows will also engage with mentors from the biotech industry and conclude the program with an in-person pitch event.

This opportunity is intended for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers working in aging-related fields, including Alzheimer’s disease and other age-associated conditions.

Applications are due by March 18, 2026. The Spring 2026 program will run from April 30 to June 11, 2026, and includes a fellowship stipend of $2,016 and travel support for the final event in Lowell, Massachusetts. To apply, click here .

Osage University Partners is hosting the 2026 Startup Financing Trends Webinar, an event focused on current venture funding patterns across the startup ecosystem, with a particular emphasis on university spinouts.

Speakers from the organization’s investment team will discuss financing trends in life sciences, including biopharma, diagnostics, research tools, and medical devices, as well as developments in technology and physical sciences such as software and defense technology.

The webinar will take place on March 24, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). To register, visit the registration page here.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania (CHOP-Penn ) are accepting applications for Translating Discoveries to the Bedside: A Medical Devices Course (Spring 2026), an NIH-supported national professional development program designed to help clinicians and researchers translate medical device concepts into real-world impact.

The program includes a five-day, in-person bootcamp in Philadelphia (May 26–30, 2026), followed by structured longitudinal mentorship. No prior device idea is required.

This opportunity is intended for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a master’s degree or higher, including clinical and research professionals nationwide. Approximately 20 seats are available.Applications are open now through March 30, 2026 (rolling admission). To apply, click here.

Biolocity is hosting a Bench2Market Talk focused on the entrepreneurial journey from academic research to startup formation.The session will feature a discussion on transitioning from academia to entrepreneurship, including building a founding team, developing an FDA-regulated product, establishing manufacturing, and navigating the early stages of commercialization. The talk will also highlight lessons learned and offer insights for researchers interested in translating their technologies into real-world products.

The event will take place on April 1 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.. To register, you can click the link here.

AI in Biotech is a collaborative event by Nucleate Florida & UF Innovate, bringing together researchers, founders, AI scientists, investors, and students to explore how AI is transforming biotechnology.

​Agenda Highlights: Welcome • AI Keynote + Q&A • Networking & Dinner • Expert Panel • Closing Remarks

​Confirmed Panelists:

​Dr. Gustavo Seabra – UF, medicinal chemistry & drug discovery

​Dr. Martin Handfield – President & CEO, Neuropacs

​Dr. Scott Siegel – UF, biomedical engineering & translational research

​Dr. David Vaillancourt – Founder & CSO, Neuropacs

​Dr. Noah Berlow – Co-Founder & CTO, First Ascent Biomedical

​Moderators: Joseph L. Tsenum • Dylan Tan

The event will take place Thursday April 2nd at 6PM at UF Innovate | Accelerate @ The Hub.

VentureWell is accepting applications for Aspire Climatetech, a five-week hybrid program designed to help climatetech startups prepare for investor engagement and equity fundraising.

Participants work closely with experienced investor-mentors to refine fundraising strategies, develop due diligence deal room materials, and simulate real-world investor and board conversations. The program also includes stress-testing startup strategies through scenario exercises and opportunities to connect with other founders and VentureWell’s investor network.

Applications are currently open and the deadline is April 8th, 2026. To learn more and apply, click here.

Mayo Clinic is hosting the Mayo Clinic Datathon and Data Summit 2026, a two-and-a-half-day immersive event focused on developing innovative solutions using real-world healthcare data. The event will take place April 10–12, 2026, in Jacksonville, Florida and is offered live, in person.

The program begins with a two-day Datathon competition, where multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals and experts in computer science, engineering, and mathematics collaborate to address critical clinical challenges. The event concludes with a one-day Data Summit featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, and workshops centered on artificial intelligence, data sharing, and healthcare innovation.

This opportunity is intended for physicians, scientists, fellows, residents, healthcare executives, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and students interested in healthcare data science and AI-driven clinical solutions.

Registration is required, and fees vary by training level. The event will be held April 10–12, 2026. To register and review pre-registration requirements, visit the website here. 

The E-Team Program, hosted by VentureWell, is an accelerator and funding opportunity designed to support student-led innovation teams developing scalable science- and engineering-based solutions. Through this program, student ventures receive up to $25,000 in non-dilutive grants, specialized entrepreneurship training, dedicated mentorship, national visibility, and access to a network of peers, investors, and industry experts.

The program is open to student teams (with at least two students and a faculty advisor) who are committed to pursuing commercialization and whose inventions have strong potential for impact in areas such as health, food security, sustainability, climate, and energy.

Applications for the Spring 2026 E-Team cohort are now open, with a deadline of April 28th, 2026. To learn more visit the Venture Well webpage here.

EMD Millipore Corporation is accepting applications for the 2026 North American Advance Biotech Grant Program, an initiative designed to support emerging biopharmaceutical and biotechnology startups advancing toward commercialization. The program provides grant recipients with access to products, services, and expert consultation to help accelerate biomanufacturing and therapeutic development efforts.

This opportunity is intended for biotechnology companies located in or conducting substantial business in the United States or Canada. One selected winner will receive the Program Winner Prize, valued at $238,400. Two finalists will each receive $20k in credit, and semi-finalists won’t walk away empty-handed either. There’s NO IP sharing required to apply and 𝐧𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 from winners or finalists.

Applications are due by Thursday April 30th , 2026. To begin your application, click here.

EMD Millipore Corporation is accepting applications for the 2026 North American Advance Biotech Grant Program, an initiative designed to support emerging biopharmaceutical and biotechnology startups advancing toward commercialization. The program provides grant recipients with access to products, services, and expert consultation to help accelerate biomanufacturing and therapeutic development efforts.

This opportunity is intended for biotechnology companies located in or conducting substantial business in the United States or Canada. One selected winner will receive the Program Winner Prize, valued at $238,400. Two finalists will each receive $20k in credit, and semi-finalists won’t walk away empty-handed either. There’s NO IP sharing required to apply and 𝐧𝐨 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 from winners or finalists.

Applications are due by Thursday April 30th , 2026. To begin your application, click here.

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is accepting submissions for the SMART Antiviral Prize, a multi-stage competition designed to accelerate the development of safe and effective broad-spectrum small molecule antivirals with the potential to advance into clinical trials and achieve U.S. regulatory approval.

The program offers up to $100 million in total prize funding across four progressive stages: Concept Stage, Stage 1 (Hit-to-Lead), Stage 2 (Lead Optimization), and Stage 3 (IND Readiness). Awards at the Concept Stage include up to eight prizes of $2.5 million each, while Stage 1 will award up to six prizes of $6 million each. Later-stage awards will support candidates advancing toward IND readiness on an accelerated timeline.

This opportunity is intended for innovators and research teams developing novel broad-spectrum small molecule antiviral candidates, including early-stage groups as well as teams with preclinical assets ready to enter the Hit-to-Lead stage.

Concept Stage submissions are open now through May 11, 2026. To review eligibility requirements and submit an entry, visit the website here.