Episode 10. How to Write a Strong Specific Aims Page (Part 2)

In the second episode on writing a good specific aims page, Enzyme by Design Co-Founder and COO Amanda Schalk and JBS Science Co-Founder Ying-Hsiu Su provide insights into their experiences with reviewers’ first impression on an SBIR/STTR application, the specific aims page.
Listen to this podcast to hear:
• Ways to address a competitive landscape
• Considerations for reapplying
• Application features for digital health and device startups
• Differences between an SBIR grant and traditional academic grants
• How to describe quantitative milestones
Podcast Guest Speakers:

Name
Bios

William Bozza, PhD Program Director SBIR Development Center National Cancer Institute
William Bozza, PhD serves as a Program Director, managing a portfolio of oncology startups (SBIR & STTR awardees) to facilitate small businesses in technology commercialization for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Bozza is currently leading the Center’s efforts on the Small Business Concept Award for early-stage high risk/high reward technologies that are targeting rare and pediatric cancers. He is also taking the lead on the Program’s Peer Learning and Networking Webinar Series to help SBIR companies learn from peers and facilitate collaboration.

Amanda Schalk, PhD
co-founder and COO
Enzyme by Design
Amanda Schalk, PhD is the co-founder and COO of Enzyme by Design. Amanda earned her undergrad degree in biochemistry on a full-ride scholarship from Eastern Michigan University and went abroad to Goettingen, Germany to earn her Master's and PhD degrees in Molecular Biology from the prestigious International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Biology and the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry. She spent 5 years as a postdoc in the lab of Dr. Lavie at the University of Illinois at Chicago characterizing the structures and enzymatic activities of L-asparaginases, resulting in multiple first author peer-reviewed publications. She also has experience as the operations manager at a startup where she also has gained experience as a virtual lab manager.


Ying-Hsiu Su PhD
Cofounder,
JBS Science
Ying-Hsiu Su PhD is a co-founder of JBS Science Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors. Dr Su is a Professor of Translational Medical Sciences at The Baruch S. Blumberg Institute. She is one of few pioneers in the field of transrenal DNA for cancer detection. Dr. Su’s research team has developed the technology to preferentially isolate this circulation-derived urine DNA for detection of colon and liver cancers. In addition, a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for collection and storage of urine samples for biomarker studies in the EDRN of the NCI has been established by her group. Dr. Su has collaborated with JBS scientists in developing various approaches to bring the transrenal DNA technology to clinical applications in the fields of cancer detection and personalized cancer management. Dr. Su’s office and lab are located in The Baruch S Blumberg Institute. Dr. Su contributes her expertise in urine DNA technology. She serves as a member of the scientific advisory board.
Programs referenced in this episode:
· PLAN series: specific aim page - - sbir.cancer.gov/commercialization/workshops-webinars/peer-learning/specific-aims
· NCI SBIR/STTR Grants - sbir.cancer.gov/small-business-funding/grants
· Phase IIB Bridge Award - sbir.cancer.gov/small-business-funding/grants/bridge-award
Transcript:
[music]

BILLY BOZZA: Hello and welcome to Innovation Lab, your go to resource for all things biotech startups, brought to you by the National Cancer Institute’s Small Business Innovation Research, SBIR Development Center.

Our podcast hosts interviews with successful entrepreneurs and provides resources for small businesses looking to take their cutting-edge cancer solutions from lab to market.

I'm Billy Bozza, a Program Director at NCI SBIR and today's host. In this episode, you will hear advice on how to write a stronger Specific Aims page from a therapeutics company and a diagnostic company funded by the NCI SBIR program.

The first company, Enzyme by Design, will provide insights on addressing a competitive landscape, application features for therapeutic startups, and considerations for reapplying.

The second company, JBS Science, will highlight application features for diagnostic startups, differences between an SBIR grant and traditional academic grants, and describing quantitative milestones. Now, without any further ado, here's Amanda Schalk, co-founder and COO of Enzyme by Design.

AMANDA SCHALK: Hello I am Dr. Amanda Schalk, Co-Fou...