Internal Funding Opportunity

Technology Advancement Program

Internal Funding Opportunity

Technology Advancement Program

The SickKids Technology Advancement Program (TAP) advances late-stage pre-clinical health care innovations through project funding, structured advice, project governance, and strategic networking opportunities.

Bring your innovation to the next level.

The SickKids Technology Advancement Program (TAP) is an initiative led by the Industry Partnerships & Commercialization (IP&C) office to advance late-stage pre-clinical health care innovations through project funding, structured advice, project governance, and strategic networking opportunities. TAP strengthens IP&C’s ability to develop and de-risk SickKids innovations beyond basic proof-of-principle.

This initiative is supported by the SickKids Commercialization Advisory Board (CAB), a panel of experienced commercialization and investment professionals who provide tailored feedback and guidance to help refine each project’s pathway to impact. The CAB selects projects to receive up to $350,000 in funding to facilitate proposed de-risking and commercialization activities.

2026 Technology Advancement Program

Call for Expressions of Interest

IP&C is excited to open the call for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the 2026 Technology Advancement Program (TAP). As part of our growing continuum of commercialization support, TAP empowers SickKids innovators by advancing late-stage pre-clinical technologies through mentorship, strategic guidance, and development funding. We encourage researchers with high-potential discoveries and a clear vision for translation to submit an EOI and take the next step toward impact.

The deadline for EOI submissions has passed.

Invitations to apply will be sent on March 4, 2026.

2026 Program Guidelines

Applicants may request funding per the award threshold below for a project period of up to 12 months to support de-risking and commercialization activities.

  • Medical Device/Clinical Software/Diagnostics = Maximum $150,000
  • Pharma/Biotech = Maximum $350,000

Funding for successful projects will be released in installments as the project progresses and meets its agreed-upon milestones.

Eligible Costs:

  • Project consumables
  • Research materials
  • Applicable service fees (e.g. core facility fees, statistical services, clinical services, etc.)
  • SickKids personnel

Ineligible Costs:

  • Computer and equipment purchasing
  • Capital or overhead costs
  • Travel
  • Principal investigator or external collaborator salaries

To be eligible for the SickKids Technology Advancement Program (TAP), projects must demonstrate strong potential for real-world impact, supported by compelling early evidence of feasibility and advancement.

*Please note that projects or technologies that already have an identified external partner or license agreement are not eligible for TAP funding.

Projects must meet the following criteria to be considered for the 2026 TAP:

  • Unmet Clinical Need
    • Addresses a clearly defined unmet clinical need.
  • Development Stage 
    • Minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 completed; elements of TRL 4 preferred. Review the 2026 TAP TRL Information Sheet for additional details.
      • Biopharma: Evidence of efficacy in a validated animal model, or strong justification for an in-vitro model.
      • Medical Devices: Demonstrated safety and effectiveness.
      • Diagnostics: Working prototype with demonstrated sensitivity and specificity.
      • Software: Early clinical validation (e.g., retrospective testing, prospective study plans, regulatory pathway considerations).
  • Intellectual Property (IP)
    • IP is assessed and well-positioned.
      • Biopharma: Patent filed.
      • Medical Devices: Provisional filed or in progress.
      • Diagnostics: Patent filed or unique know-how defined.
      • Software: Unique know-how defined; copyright where appropriate.
  • Feasibility
    • TAP funding must meaningfully advance the project toward a value inflection point.
  • Previous Funding
    • Prior commercialization-focused funding (e.g., SK PoP, TIAP, LAB150, SK Foundation, CIHR) is acceptable.
  • Market Potential
    • Defined primary market, known barriers, and potential for market expansion

 

The SickKids TAP follows a multi-stage selection process:

  1. Expression of Interest (EOI)

All EOIs will be evaluated by a review committee comprised of subject matter experts and representatives from the Industry Partnerships & Commercialization (IP&C) Office. EOIs will be assessed to verify Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and determine overall TAP eligibility.

    • Call for EOIs: February 5, 2026
    • EOI Submission Deadline: 5:00PM EST, February 17, 2026
  1. Invitation to Apply

Projects that have been deemed eligible via their EOI submission will receive an invitation to submit a full project proposal. Proposals will be assessed for their technical merit, potential for translation, and fit with current TAP objectives. Applicants may be requested to meet with the review committee if additional context is required.

    • Invitation to Apply: Early March, 2026
    • Application Deadline: 5:00PM EST, March 23, 2026
  1. Pitch Presentations

The top three applicants will be invited to further develop their project proposal into a 10-minute presentation, with assistance from the IP&C Business Development team and external key opinion leaders. Final presentations will take place on Pitch Day, during which the SickKids Commercialization Advisory Board (CAB) will evaluate each project’s scientific merit, commercial potential, and advancement potential to determine the 2026 TAP funding recipient.

    • Selection of Top Projects: Early April, 2026
    • Pitch Day: May 28, 2026

TAP 2026 Program Guidelines – PDF Version

Expression of Interest (EOI) Form – Microsoft Forms Link

Expression of Interest (EOI) Form – Fillable PDF Version

Technology Readiness Level (TRLs) Information Sheet

Commercialization Advisory Board (CAB)

2025 Technology Advancement Program

The inaugural SickKids Technology Advancement Program (TAP) ran from March to August 2025, supporting three promising projects with IP&C-led guidance and input from leaders in investment and industry. Projects selected to participate in the program addressed clearly defined clinical needs, demonstrated strong intellectual property positioning, and were at a stage where funding and mentorship could drive meaningful progress toward commercialization.

The program culminated on August 20, 2025, with final pitch presentations during which lead investigators showcased the scientific merit, market opportunity, and advancement potential of their innovations. Following thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the SickKids Commercialization Advisory Board (CAB) selected Dr. Roman Melnyk as the 2025 TAP funding recipient for his project aimed at mitigating Clostridioides difficile infections. His work will receive $350,000 in development funding along with continued mentorship to support future commercialization activities.

2025 TAP Funding Recipient: Roman Melnyk
Participating Projects:

Millions of people suffer from chronic lung diseases like COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis, yet current treatments only manage symptoms without addressing the root cause—an underlying dysfunction in the lung’s immune response.

To tackle this gap, the Post lab has developed engineered human alveolar-like macrophages (ALMs) from stem cells using their patent-protected, scalable protocol. These ALMs can be delivered directly into the lungs and engineered to restore immune balance, repair damaged tissue, fight infection, or even target cancer. In preclinical models, ALMs have shown the ability to clear bacterial and viral infections, reverse lung damage in emphysema, and target tumor cells.

This platform offers a highly versatile, disease-modifying approach that could reshape treatment for a broad range of lung conditions currently unresponsive to standard care.

IP&C Business Development Representative: Stephanie Tammam

Read the Technology Brief

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a dangerous, spore-forming bacterium that causes severe diarrhea and colon inflammation. The current standard of care relies on antibiotics, but this approach is inadequate as it further disrupts the gut microbiota and fails to directly target the harmful toxin, ultimately contributing to persistent and recurring infections.

Researchers at SickKids synthesized novel bile acid variants that resist early absorption in the gut, allowing them to bind to and neutralize toxins released by C. difficile without harming beneficial gut bacteria. In lab and animal studies, these orally administered treatments were safe, highly potent, and prevented infection relapse.

This innovation represents a significant step forward in treating and preventing recurrent C. difficile infections, offering a safer, more accessible alternative to current therapies.

IP&C Business Development Representative: Kamran Rezai

Read the Technology Brief

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive brain cancer. The current standard of care, a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, lacks tumor selectivity, leading to toxic side effects, poor response rates, and nearly universal recurrence.

Huang’s team discovered a tumor-specific potassium channel complex essential for GBM growth and developed a designer peptide that selectively disrupts it. In preclinical models, the peptide eliminated both chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant GBM cells, significantly extended survival, and showed no off-target toxicity. Notably, it also activated the tumor’s immune microenvironment, opening the door to synergistic combination with immunotherapies for durable remission.

This promising approach could provide a targeted, effective treatment option for GBM, overcoming resistance, sparing healthy tissue, and enhancing immune response.

IP&C Business Development Representative: Konrad Powell-Jones

Read the Technology Brief

IP&C Executive Director, Ihor Boszko, presents an award certificate to TAP funding recipient, Roman Melnyk