About this programme
The Blazer Bridge Fund is an early-stage translational fund underwritten and administered by the Bill Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It aims to support the development of novel intellectual property (IP) to the point where it can attract licensee interest and/or be positioned for intellectual property protection.
The fund is slated to fund five to six projects per round, at a maximum of $50,000 per project.
How it works
Funds must be spent within 12 months of the award date; a 6-month no-cost extension may be available on request. Applicants may submit multiple proposals. Any unutilized funds remaining at the end of the award period revert to HIIE.
The fund supports prototype or software development, contract work with CROs, wages for consultants, students, postdocs, and staff, humanization of antibodies, and research that enhances existing IP (such as lead optimization or toxicity studies). Salary support is capped at $15,000 per award, and no salary support is allowed for UAB faculty.
The fund will not support publication costs, target discovery or high-throughput screening (HTS), basic research, travel money, or faculty salary.
If a BBF-funded project is commercialized and generates revenue, that revenue first goes to reimburse the fund for the award amount. Remaining revenue after that is distributed according to UAB's Revenue Distribution Chart.
Who can apply
Faculty members and staff are eligible to apply. Graduate students, medical residents, fellows, and postdocs may apply with the support of a faculty advisor or mentor.
Applicants must submit, or have previously submitted, an IP disclosure covering the proposal's project. Technologies that are currently licensed are not eligible.
How to apply
- Watch for the application window to open; for Cohort 4, applications open April 3, 2026.
- Download the application and submit it before the deadline (May 15 for Cohort 4).
- An internal committee evaluates proposals and selects 10 to 12 semifinalists.
- An external committee then evaluates all semifinalist proposals, using the same criteria as the internal committee, and feedback is provided to all applicants.
- Winners are announced (September 7 for Cohort 4); awardees must provide an account number within two weeks of the announcement to keep the award.
- The award use period begins shortly after (October 1 for Cohort 4).
Documents you’ll typically need
- IP disclosure covering the proposal's project (submitted through UAB's IP disclosure system)
- Completed application (Word document, downloadable from the program page)
Frequently asked
How much can I get, and how many projects get funded?
The fund is slated to fund five to six projects per round, at a maximum of $50,000 per project.
Can I use the funds for my own salary?
No salary support is allowed for UAB faculty. Salary support for others (consultants, students, postdocs, staff) is allowed but capped at $15,000 per award.
Is a technology already under license still eligible?
No. Technologies currently licensed are not eligible for the Blazer Bridge Fund.
What happens to unused funds?
Any unutilized funds remaining at the end of the 12-month award period (or the 6-month no-cost extension, if granted) revert to HIIE.
What if my project later makes money?
If a BBF-funded project is commercialized and generates revenue, that revenue first reimburses the fund for the award amount; remaining revenue is then distributed per UAB's Revenue Distribution Chart.
What criteria are proposals judged on?
Project outcome, commercial promise, development status, approach, expertise, and prospects for raising additional capital.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.