The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) is a leader among its peers when it comes to developing and translating key technologies that advance innovation in rehabilitation science.
Working with the University’s Innovation Institute, the SHRS Innovation Challenge allows faculty, staff and students to compete for funds to assist with the translation of technology. The challenge is a multi-step process involving an educational program and development activities. We are leveraging the knowledge and experience of Pitt’s Innovation Institute to conduct the challenge.
Awards
Finalists will compete for an award total of $40,000.
Accepted applicants (finalists) will participate in the Pitt SHRS I-Corps Hub Short Course.
The application opens on January 29, 2025.
The deadline to apply is March 19, 2025.
Eligibility:
The SHRS Innovation Challenge is open to faculty, post-doctoral associates, graduate students and staff who are:
Students are welcome and encouraged to participate on teams led by an SHRS faculty member or postdoctoral associates.
The Challenge is done in conjunction with the NSF I-Corps
Three additional “mini courses” will be presented following completion of the course:
Finalists (successfully complete I-Corps Regional Course) will provide the following collateral:
Final Pitch rehearsals and OIE EIR feedback will be held during the weeks of June 2 and June 9, 2025.
The final pitches will take place in June 2025.
Why Participate?
Apply:
To a apply for the 2025 SHRS Innovation Challenge applicants are directed to apply for the NSF I-Corps Interior Northeast Regional Course hosted by the University of Pittsburgh.
Applications will be accepted from January 29 through March 19, 2025. Please identify the SHRS Principal Investigator in the “Advisors and Other Colleagues” section of the application.
For application questions, contact John Inserra, assistant director, Innovation Programming.
Other Information:
Applicants are limited to a maximum of two applications. Dual applicants must address unrelated technology opportunities. (Only one application per individual can be accepted into a regional NSF I-Corps Course.)
Upon completion, participants may be eligible to apply for additional funding up to $50,000 through the NSF I-Corps national program. During the National I-Corps, NSF grantees learn to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from their innovative ideas and to build a business model using evidence-based lean startup methodology.
Need more details? Email Dave Brienza, associate dean for Technology and Innovation, SHRS.
1st Place: $50,000
Aspirometer
Difficulty swallowing causes aspiration, the misdirection of food and liquid into the lungs. Pitt researchers have developed a novel, non-invasive sensor-based, artificial intelligence method of detecting swallowing dysfunction.
2nd Place: $30,000
Kirigami Wheelchair
Over 75 million people need an appropriately fitted and affordable wheelchair. Engineers from Pitt’s Human Engineering Research Laboratories have created a wheelchair from laser-cut and bent sheet metal that increases the quality and customization of wheelchairs, while lowering costs.
3rd Place: $20,000
The Safer Seat
For individuals with decreased strength, balance or mobility, and their caregivers, Pitt researchers have developed a vehicle seat overlay to facilitate safe transfer into and out of vehicles.