REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Science Center Academic Publication & Conference Dissemination Scholars Program

The Science Center Academic Publication & Conference Dissemination Scholars Program awards funding to career faculty to support the dissemination of their scholarly work through peer‑reviewed publications and professional conference presentations. Awards may be used to offset publication fees, conference registration and travel, poster production, and other costs directly tied to sharing research with the broader academic and scientific community. If you have work ready to reach a wider audience in aligned spaces, we invite you to apply.

Apply

This RFP is offered with support from:

Section 1 - Program Purpose
Section 2 - Funding & Award Structure
Section 3 - Eligibility
Section 4 - Focus Areas
Section 5 - Disease Lanes
Section 6 - What this RFP will Fund
Section 7 - Target Conferences for Dissemination
Section 8 - Conference Proceedings and Publication Considerations
Section 9 - Deliverables & Awardee Expectations
Section 10 - Application Process & Required Materials
Section 11 - Review Criteria & Scoring
Section 12 - Topic Prompts
Section 13 - Next 12 months Conference Calendar
Section 14 - Compliance, Independence, & Disclosure

Apply Now

Final decisions are expected by the end of April.

SECTION 1

PROGRAM PURPOSE

The Science Center's mission is to close the gap between breakthrough ideas and commercial adoption, driving better patient outcomes and measurable economic impact. Through the Translation Project™, the Science Center operates at the intersection of capital, evidence, partnerships, and impact to move life science and healthcare technology from innovation to real-world use.

Too many promising health innovations stall before reaching patients. Without clear evidence, stakeholder alignment, and adoption pathways, even breakthrough ideas fade before they deliver impact. This program exists to generate the rigorous, publishable scholarship that illuminates why — and what to do about it.

With support from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, the Science Center is funding independent research that addresses innovation-to-adoption gaps and barriers to care, with a clear path to (a) peer-reviewed publication and (b) conference dissemination at clinical, policy, and innovation venues.

This program funds original, peer-reviewable scholarship, not position papers or opinion pieces. Selected work must withstand peer review, produce defensible findings, and land in rooms where decisions get made.

SECTION 2

FUNDING AND AWARD STRUCTURE

2.1 Award Amount

Up to $25,000 per selected project (total costs).

Facilities & Administrative (F&A) / Indirect Costs: allowable, capped at 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC).

NOTE: MTDC = total direct costs minus equipment, patient care costs, tuition remission, subawards in excess of $25,000, and rental costs of off-site facilities, consistent with standard federal definitions.

2.2 Number of Awards

The program does not guarantee a set number of awards. Awards will be made based on quality, feasibility, and alignment, with program capacity to fund up to two projects at the level above.

2.3 Conference Travel Support (Supplemental)

Conference travel support will be available only if the awardee's work is accepted for presentation (poster/oral/panel/briefing) at a target (or approved similar) conference listed in Section 7.

Covered costs: conference registration, economy airfare/train, maximum two nights lodging, and local ground transport, consistent with institutional travel policy.
Who is covered: generally one presenting author per accepted presentation (unless otherwise approved).
How it's funded: Any travel will be processed via reimbursement per Science Center policy.

2.4 Award Conditions

Award is contingent upon:

(a) Execution of a Science Center award agreement between the University City Science Center and the awardee institution.
(b) Compliance with all requirements set forth in Section 14 (Compliance, Independence, and Disclosure).
(c) Institutional sign-off from the applicant's organization, if applicable.

SECTION 3

ELIGIBILITY

3.1 Eligible Applicants

Faculty, researchers, or senior staff at accredited U.S.-based academic institutions, research organizations, or nonprofit entities.
Multi-institutional teams are permitted; one institution must serve as the lead and fiscal agent.
Independent researchers or consultants are not eligible unless affiliated with an eligible institution.

3.2 Principal Investigator Requirements

The PI must hold a terminal degree (PhD, MD, JD, DrPH, or equivalent) or demonstrate equivalent professional experience.
The PI must have a documented track record of peer-reviewed publication or equivalent scholarly output.

3.3 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

All key personnel must disclose any financial relationships with Genentech, Roche, or their subsidiaries at the time of application.
Disclosed conflicts do not automatically disqualify applicants but will be reviewed for management or mitigation.
Applicants must comply with their institution's COI policies and provide institutional COI clearance upon request.

SECTION 4

FOCUS AREAS

These focus areas are grounded in the Science Center's Translation Project™ mission and reflect the operational gaps we see every day between innovation and adoption. Proposals must address one or more:

1. CLOSING THE TRANSLATION GAP: INNOVATION TO ADOPTION

Why promising health innovations stall before reaching patients — evidence gaps, stakeholder misalignment, regulatory/reimbursement disconnects, and capital inefficiency. The Science Center's core thesis is that 75% of medtech/health-tech startups never reach commercial launch, and fewer than 1 in 10 therapeutics survive clinical trials to approval. We want scholarship that dissects the specific failure points and identifies actionable interventions.

2. RURAL HEALTH ACCESS & CARE-AT-HOME DELIVERY

Site-of-care innovation beyond hospital walls — mobile diagnostics, home-based therapy, telehealth, community-based screening, and the infrastructure gaps (broadband, transportation, workforce) that block adoption in rural and underserved settings. Includes caregiver burden, informal caregiving economics, caregiver-mediated adherence, and the workforce models needed to sustain care outside traditional facilities.

3. HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN & ADOPTION INFRASTRUCTURE

The operational plumbing that breaks between FDA clearance and patient use — reimbursement pathways, prior authorization friction, health system procurement processes, IT/EHR integration, and the workflow redesign required for clinical adoption. The Science Center sees this daily: innovations that work in a pilot but die in procurement. We want research that maps these breakdowns and proposes fixes.

4. BARRIERS TO ADOPTION: COMMUNITY, EQUITY & WORKFORCE

Structural barriers — digital literacy, language access, specialist capacity, community trust, and workforce constraints — that prevent adoption even when the innovation works. This includes engaging non-traditional partners (community organizations, public health systems, advocacy groups) in the design and deployment of health solutions. The Science Center's work with health systems, payors, and clinicians consistently surfaces these barriers as the last mile that doesn't get funded.

5. ECONOMIC VALUE OF HEALTH INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS

Quantifying the regional economic impact of life science and health-tech investment — jobs, capital formation, avoided costs, and the ecosystem flywheel. The Science Center drives $7.6 billion in annual regional economic impact, and CRP alumni have raised $178M+ since 2023. We want rigorous research that connects innovation ecosystem investment to measurable economic and health returns, and identifies policy levers that accelerate the cycle.

SECTION 5

DISEASE LANES

The Science Center's Translation Project engages companies, clinicians, and health systems across multiple therapeutic areas. Proposals should address at least one of the following disease lanes, or be clearly justified as cross-cutting work under Lane D:

A. ONCOLOGY / CANCER CARE

The Science Center has deep engagement in oncology through its relationship with the Abramson Cancer Center, CRP alumni in cancer diagnostics and screening, and published work on redefining cancer care delivery. Research addressing cancer care access, site-of-care innovation, early detection pathways, or survivorship models is strongly encouraged.

B. CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT (Cardiovascular, Metabolic, IBD)

Chronic disease management is a core adoption challenge — patients must start and stay on therapy across complex, long-duration treatment regimens. Research addressing initiation, adherence, persistence, benefit design, or care pathway redesign for cardiovascular, metabolic, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) populations is welcome.

C. NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease)

Neurological conditions present acute challenges for rural access, care-at-home delivery, and caregiver burden. Research addressing geographic disparities in specialist access, home-based treatment models, caregiver workforce dynamics, or barriers to timely diagnosis and therapy initiation is encouraged.

D. DISEASE-AGNOSTIC / CROSS-CUTTING

Research on translation infrastructure, reimbursement systems, supply chain dynamics, workforce constraints, or adoption barriers that is not specific to a single disease state. This lane is particularly well-suited to work under Focus Areas 1, 3, and 5.

SECTION 6

WHAT THIS RFP WILL FUND

We are prioritizing methods-forward projects with a realistic path to:

A manuscript submission to a peer-reviewed journal (or equivalent scholarly outlet), AND
A conference submission (abstract/session proposal/panel pitch) within the next year.

Examples of strong approaches:

Real-world evidence (RWE) using claims, EHR, or registry data with strong governance and feasibility — e.g., a claims-based analysis of time-to-therapy for MS patients in rural Appalachian counties vs. urban academic medical centers.
Health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and budget impact/value frameworks — e.g., a budget impact model comparing site-of-care policies for IBD biologics across hospital outpatient, infusion center, and home-based administration settings.
Implementation science and care pathway redesign — e.g., a mixed-methods evaluation of mobile cancer screening adoption in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) serving rural populations.
Policy analysis that identifies specific levers — e.g., mapping prior authorization denial rates by geography and payor type for cardiovascular therapies, with recommendations for policy reform.
Economic impact analysis — e.g., quantifying the jobs, capital formation, and avoided healthcare costs attributable to a regional life science innovation ecosystem over a defined period.
Systematic reviews or meta-analyses ONLY if they produce novel synthesis with clear policy/practice implications (literature summaries without actionable findings are not competitive).

Out of scope:

Clinical trials requiring patient care costs
Basic science without a clear access/outcomes/value linkage
Advocacy/lobbying activities (research is fundable; lobbying is not)
Projects without credible data access or without a plausible 12-month deliverable path

SECTION 7

TARGET CONFERENCES FOR DISSEMINATION

Applicants must name 1–3 target conferences and include a submission artifact (draft abstract or equivalent) and a timeline.

The Science Center values dissemination across clinical, policy, and innovation venues. The list below includes sample conferences for consideration by applicants. NOTE:this list is NOT exhaustive but representative only. If you have an already accepted manuscript and think the proceedings are aligned please submit and let us know.

NOTE: All dates below are subject to change. Applicants must verify final deadlines directly with conference organizers.

SCIENTIFIC / CLINICAL (abstract-driven):

ASCO Annual Meeting — May 29–June 2, 2026
NCCN Annual Conference — March 27–29, 2026 (2027 target)
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) — Dec 8–11, 2026

HEALTH SERVICES, POLICY & INNOVATION (abstract and session-driven):

AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting — June 2026
Mayo Clinic Global Executive Healthcare Summit — June 2–3, 2026, Rochester, MN (session/presentation; AI, digital transformation, and care model innovation)
HLTH Europe — June 15–18, 2026, RAI Amsterdam
SDOH & Health Equity Forum — June 25–26, 2026, Swissotel Chicago
World Medical Innovation Forum (WMIF) — September 22–23, 2026 (Mass General Brigham's flagship; AI, biotech, digital health, commercialization)
Mayo Clinic Transforming Community, Regional, and Rural Healthcare — October 12–13, 2026, Rochester, MN (CE-accredited; direct fit for rural health + care-at-home + workforce models)
American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting — October/November 2026
HLTH USA — November 15–18, 2026, Venetian Expo Center, Las Vegas
HIMSS Global Health Conference — March 2026 / 2027 cycle
SXSW Health — March 2027

INVESTOR & PARTNERING (pitch / partnering / presentation-driven):

LSI USA '26 — March 16–20, 2026, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Dana Point, CA
RESI Europe — March 23, 2026, Lisbon
MESH Core (Mass General Brigham) — May 4–5, 2026, Boston (healthcare innovation bootcamp; 3,000+ alumni network; dissemination + investor/founder network venue)
RESI San Diego — June 22, 2026
RESI Boston — September 22–23, 2026
LSI Europe '26 — September 28–October 2, 2026, Grand Hyatt Barcelona
Mayo Clinic Beahrs Surgical Innovation Summit — November 17, 2026, Rochester, MN (surgeons, medtech, investors; application-based)

BIOTECH / ADVOCACY / POLICY (session/panel/briefing-driven):

BIO International Convention — June 22–25, 2026
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (CBCF ALC) — Sept 16–20, 2026
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Leadership Conference (CHCI) — Sept 15–16, 2026
BIO Patient & Health Advocacy Summit / PACE — 2026 dates TBD

IMPORTANT: Some venues do not run traditional abstract peer review. For those, the required "submission artifact" is a panel/session pitch + policy brief outline (templates provided in Appendix C).

SECTION 8

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS AND PUBLICATION CONSIDERATIONS

Applicants must explicitly address where the work will appear if accepted (abstract catalog, journal supplement, proceedings, etc.) and any embargo or formatting constraints.

Examples (for planning):

ASCO: Meeting abstracts appear as "Meeting Abstracts" supplements within the Journal of Clinical Oncology ecosystem.
SABCS: Proceedings have been published in a peer-reviewed journal (e.g., SABCS 2025 proceedings in Clinical Cancer Research).
ACTRIMS: Accepted abstracts published in the ACTRIMS Forum Abstract Catalog and Multiple Sclerosis Journal online, with embargo timing. Poster guidance explicitly prohibits commercial logos, company names, and brand/proprietary drug names.
AcademyHealth: Accepted abstracts appear in the ARM program and may be presented as podium or poster; no formal proceedings journal but abstracts are indexed and citable.
APHA: Accepted abstracts appear in the APHA Annual Meeting program; no formal proceedings journal, but abstracts are searchable and archived.
Mayo Clinic Conferences: Mayo Clinic's Digital Health Research Symposium publishes selected abstracts in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health. The Transforming Community, Regional, and Rural Healthcare conference is CE-accredited but does not publish formal proceedings — dissemination is through presentation and post-event reports.
World Medical Innovation Forum (WMIF): Mass General Brigham's WMIF publishes e-proceedings and session summaries; selected presentations and "Big Ideas in Medicine" are distributed through MGB's institutional channels and media. No traditional abstract-driven proceedings journal.
HLTH (USA and Europe): HLTH does not publish proceedings or abstract catalogs. Dissemination is through session presentation, media coverage, and post-event content distribution. The submission pathway is session proposals, pavilion applications, and speaker slots — not structured abstracts.
LSI Summits (USA, Europe): LSI does not publish formal proceedings. Presenting companies deliver pitches to investor audiences. Dissemination is through presentation, investor meetings, and post-event content. Submission is via presenting company application.
RESI Conferences: RESI does not publish proceedings. These are investor-partnering events with structured 1:1 meetings and presentations. Dissemination is through direct investor engagement, not published abstracts.
SDOH & Health Equity Forum: Session-driven policy convening; no formal abstract proceedings. Dissemination through panel presentations and post-event summaries.
CBCF ALC / CHCI: Policy convenings with panel, briefing, and side-event formats. No formal proceedings — dissemination through policy briefs, briefing documents, and on-site presentations.

Proceedings practices change — awardees are responsible for confirming current rules for their selected meeting. For venues without traditional abstract peer review (HLTH, LSI, RESI, CBCF, CHCI, SDOH Forum), the required "submission artifact" is a session/panel pitch + policy brief outline per Appendix C templates.

SECTION 9

DELIVERABLES AND AWARDEE EXPECTATIONS

9.1 Required Deliverables (Minimum)

MANUSCRIPT: at least one manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed journal (or comparable scholarly outlet) by the end of the award period.
CONFERENCE SUBMISSION: at least one submission (abstract/session proposal/panel pitch) to a target conference listed in Section 7, with proof of submission.

STAKEHOLDER OUTPUTS:

Executive summary (2–4 pages, non-technical, decision-oriented)
Slide deck (10–15 slides) suitable for conference presentation and sponsor briefings. All presentation materials must comply with venue-specific branding restrictions (see Section 8).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHECKPOINTS:

Kickoff report (within 30 days of award start)
Midpoint report (at 6 months): progress narrative + financial status report
Final report (within 30 days of award end): outcomes narrative + financial closeout
Report templates will be provided by the Science Center at award execution.

9.2 Review of External Submissions

Awardees must submit drafts to the Science Center Program Administrator prior to external submission:

Conference abstract/submission artifact
Manuscript (near-final draft)

Review ensures:

Compliance, disclosures, and funding acknowledgment language
No confidential information is inadvertently included
Adherence to conference rules (e.g., branding restrictions per Section 8)

Academic independence is expected and protected; review does not dictate conclusions. See Section 14.

9.3 Funding Acknowledgment

The Science Center will provide required funding acknowledgment and disclosure language. This language will be incorporated at time of award and must appear on all external outputs (manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, policy briefs). Awardees will be responsible for incorporating this language prior to submission.

SECTION 10

APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIRED MATERIALS

STEP 1: CONCEPT NOTE + DRAFT SUBMISSION PACKAGE (Required)

Applicants submit a single PDF including the following components:

A. CONCEPT NOTE (max 3 pages)

Title, team, institution
Focus area(s) (Section 4) and disease lane(s) (Section 5)
Research questions / aims
Data sources and feasibility (explicit status: already-accessible vs. requires DUA [Data Use Agreement] purchase/approval)
Methods overview (design, analytic approach)
Expected outputs and why they matter
Conflict of interest disclosures for all key personnel (per Section 3.3)

NOTE: Proposals requiring data access not yet secured must include a realistic timeline and contingency plan. Lack of confirmed data access is a significant feasibility risk and will be scored accordingly.

B. DRAFT CONFERENCE SUBMISSION ARTIFACT(S) (max 1 page each; submit 1–2 artifacts)

Choose based on target venue type:

Scientific/health services conferences (ASCO, NCCN, SABCS, AcademyHealth, APHA): draft structured abstract
Innovation/policy/advocacy venues (BIO, CBCF, CHCI, SXSW Health, HIMSS): session/panel pitch (250–500 words) + 1-page policy brief outline

C. CONFERENCE TARGETING, PROCEEDINGS, AND TIMELINE WORKSHEET (Required)

Use the template in Appendix B (must include next-12-month plan).

D. ONE-PAGE WORKPLAN (Required)

Month-by-month milestones with clear submission dates.

E. BUDGET + JUSTIFICATION (max 1 page + spreadsheet if desired)

Total not to exceed $25,000
F&A / indirects capped at 10% of MTDC (modified total direct costs)
Identify any anticipated travel needs (not funded unless accepted for presentation, but must be planned)
Use the budget template in Appendix A

F. BIOSKETCHES / CVs (2 pages per key person)

OPTIONAL STEP 2: FULL PROPOSAL (Invitation Only)

Top-ranked applicants may be asked for a brief full proposal packet (e.g., analysis plan detail, draft figures/tables, DUA/IRB [Institutional Review Board] status letters).

SECTION 11

REVIEW CRITERIA AND SCORING

Applications will be scored by an independent review panel convened by the University City Science Center. Genentech does not participate in scientific merit evaluation. A Genentech representative may observe the review process for compliance purposes only, in a non-voting capacity.

SCORING RUBRIC (100 points):

Criterion | Points

Alignment to SC focus areas + disease lanes | 20 |
Methodological rigor + feasibility | 25 |
Impact on adoption / access / barriers | 20 |
Draft submission artifact quality | 15 |
Conference proceedings + timeline realism | 10 |
Team capability + execution readiness | 10 |

TOTAL | 100 |

What "good" looks like:

Alignment (20 pts): Direct fit to Section 4 focus areas and Section 5 disease lanes; not forced or tangential.
Rigor + feasibility (25 pts): Clear design; credible, confirmed or near-confirmed data access; realistic within 12 months.
Impact (20 pts): Actionable implications and measurable outcomes — not aspirational framing.
Artifact quality (15 pts): Abstract/pitch is coherent, conference-fit, and near submission-ready.
Conference + timeline (10 pts): Knows deadlines, acceptance mechanics, proceedings/embargo constraints; plan is realistic.
Team (10 pts): Track record and roles match the work; no over-reliance on unfilled positions.

QUALITY FLOOR:

A minimum score of 60/100 is required for funding consideration.
Projects scoring below 15/25 on Methodological Rigor + Feasibility will not advance regardless of total score.

SECTION 12

TOPIC PROMPTS

Applicants may respond to one of the prompts below or propose their own aligned topic. Prompts are organized by Science Center focus area.

PROMPT SET A — Closing the Translation Gap

What are the highest-failure-rate points in the innovation-to-adoption pathway for [disease lane] technologies, and what interventions (evidence generation, stakeholder engagement, reimbursement strategy, regulatory pathway redesign) would meaningfully improve translation rates?

PROMPT SET B — Rural Health Access & Care-at-Home

Where do innovation-to-access gaps occur in rural or underserved settings for [disease lane], and what are the highest-leverage delivery models (mobile diagnostics, home-based therapy, telehealth, community health worker integration, benefit redesign)?

PROMPT SET C — Supply Chain & Adoption Infrastructure

Map the operational breakdown points between FDA clearance and patient use for a specific technology or therapeutic class. Where does the supply chain fail — procurement, reimbursement coding, EHR integration, workflow redesign — and what fixes are actionable within existing institutional and policy frameworks?

PROMPT SET D — Barriers to Adoption: Community, Equity & Workforce

Diagnose structural barriers (digital literacy, language access, specialist capacity, community trust, workforce constraints) for [disease lane] and propose evidence-based mitigation strategies with measurable outcomes. Bonus: engage non-traditional partners in the research design.

PROMPT SET E — Economic Value of Innovation Ecosystems

Quantify the economic and social returns of health innovation ecosystem investment (jobs, regional spillovers, avoided costs, productivity gains, caregiver burden reduction) and identify policy levers that accelerate translation of innovation into health and economic outcomes.

PROMPT SET F — Cross-Disease Comparative Barrier Mapping (Advanced)

Compare adoption barrier patterns across two disease lanes (e.g., oncology screening vs. MS specialist access in rural settings) and surface what is generalizable vs. disease-specific. Identify transferable interventions.

SECTION 13

NEXT-12-MONTH CONFERENCE CALENDAR (Planning Tool)

NOTE: All dates are subject to change. Applicants must verify final deadlines directly with official conference sites.

SCIENTIFIC / CLINICAL:

Conference	Dates	Sub. Type	Proceedings / Notes	Planning Implication	Abstract Limit
NCCN Annual Conf	Mar 27–29, 2026	Poster abstracts	Educational mtg w/ poster session	2027 target unless already accepted	Verify w/ NCCN
ASCO Annual Mtg	May 29–Jun 2, 2026	Abstracts	Meeting abstracts in JCO ecosystem	Plan for 2027 cycle unless already submitted	~2,500 chars
SABCS	Dec 8–11, 2026	Abstracts	Proceedings in Clinical Cancer Research	Feasible — abstract window typically May–July	~500 words

HEALTH SERVICES, POLICY & INNOVATION:

Conference	Dates	Sub. Type	Proceedings / Notes	Planning Implication	Abstract Limit
AcademyHealth ARM	Jun 2026 (est.)	Abstracts	ARM program; podium/poster	Abstract deadline typically Jan; plan for 2027 if missed	~400 words
HLTH Europe	Jun 15–18, 2026	Session props / pavilion	Innovation convening; 5,000+ attendees; RAI Amsterdam	SC has existing HLTH presence; strong for innovation-to-adoption + care delivery	N/A
APHA Annual Mtg	Oct/Nov 2026	Abstracts	APHA program; searchable abstracts	Deadline typically Mar–Apr; feasible for new projects	~250 words
HLTH USA	Nov 15–18, 2026	Session props / pavilion	Healthcare's #1 innovation event; Venetian Expo, Las Vegas	SC flagship venue — pavilion + panels in 2025; plan for session props + pavilion presence	N/A
HIMSS Global	Mar 2026/2027	Sessions	Session-driven; health IT / innovation	Plan for 2027 cycle; strong for supply chain + EHR work	N/A
SXSW Health	Mar 2027	Session props	Innovation convening	Proposals typically due ~Jul; strong for adoption narratives	N/A

BIOTECH / ADVOCACY / POLICY:

Conference	Dates	Sub. Type	Proceedings / Notes	Planning Implication	Abstract Limit
BIO Intl Convention	Jun 22–25, 2026	Session props	Convening; varies by track	2026 sessions closed; plan for attendance or 2027	N/A
CBCF ALC	Sep 16–20, 2026	Panel/briefing	Policy convening	Strong for barrier-to-care + rural access policy briefs	N/A
CHCI Leadership	Sep 15–16, 2026	Panel/briefing	Policy convening	Strong for equity/access narratives	N/A
BIO PACE	2026 TBD	Policy sessions	Convening; dates not yet published	Target if access/caregiving/policy angle is primary	N/A

SECTION 14

COMPLIANCE, INDEPENDENCE, AND DISCLOSURE

14.1 Academic Independence

This program is designed to support independent, investigator-initiated scholarship. The Science Center administers the program. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, provides sponsorship funding but does not:

Review, approve, or influence research design or methodology
Review, approve, or influence research conclusions or findings
Dictate publication or dissemination decisions
Hold editorial control over any awardee output

Awardees retain full academic independence over all aspects of their work.

14.2 Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

This program is administered in compliance with:

Office of Inspector General (OIG) Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals
International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals
All applicable federal and state regulations

14.3 Disclosure Requirements

All awardee publications, abstracts, presentations, and external outputs must include required funding acknowledgment and disclosure language (see Section 9.3).
All key personnel must disclose financial relationships with Genentech, Roche, and their subsidiaries (per Section 3.3).
All publications must comply with ICMJE authorship and disclosure guidelines.

14.4 Intellectual Property and Data Ownership

Awardees retain ownership of all data, analyses, and intellectual property generated under this award.
Sponsor (Science Center) receives a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reference and distribute published outputs for non-commercial purposes.
Unpublished data and working materials remain the property of the awardee and their institution.

14.5 Review Process Independence

Scientific merit review is conducted by an independent panel convened by the University City Science Center. Genentech may designate a non-voting observer for compliance review purposes only. Genentech has no veto authority over award selection.

APPLY NOW