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.

Join the SHRS Innovation challenge

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 $100,000.

  • 1st Place: $50,000
  • 2nd Place: $30,000
  • 3rd Place: $20,000

Accepted applicants (finalists) will participate in the Pitt SHRS I-Corps Hub Short Course.

Application

The application opens on January 29, 2025. 

Deadline

The deadline to apply is March 12, 2025.

How it Works:   

Eligibility:  

The SHRS Innovation Challenge is open to faculty, post-doctoral associates, graduate students and staff who are:  

  • Working on University of Pittsburgh intellectual property led by a principal investigator who is a faculty member or postdoctoral associate in the School of the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences   
  • Interested in learning and participating in commercialization of university technology discoveries. 

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

  • If participants have already successfully completed a previous First Gear Cohort or NSF Regional Course for the technology submitted, they are eligible to skip the course as long as they provide 25 documented customer interviews and attend the three additional mini courses (see below).  
  • Accepted applicants are required to participate in and successfully complete the Regional NSF I-Corps Course (April 7 – May 15, 2025):
    • A four-week virtual course providing university-based researchers key insights into exploring the market potential of their work while learning entrepreneurial skills    
    • The course combines self-directed online learning activities with six Zoom-based class meetings (one-two hours long), and two one-on-one instructor check-ins 
  • Participants learn to apply “customer discovery” methodology to evaluate the potential for translating their technology innovation from the lab into a successful product and/or service.   

Three additional “mini courses” will be presented following completion of the course:

  • Market Analysis: May 12, 2025, noon – 2 p.m. 
  • Competition: May 14, 2025, noon – 2 p.m. 
  • Pitch Deck/Story Telling: May 21, 2025: noon – 2 p.m.  

Finalists (successfully complete I-Corps Regional Course) will provide the following collateral:   

  • A one-page Marketing Brief (template will be provided) that summarizes the innovation’s value proposition, market opportunity, competitive landscape, technology, stage of development and IP landscape  
  • Final Opportunity Pitch Deck that tells a compelling story demonstrating the need for your solution, convinces the judges that solving the problem is worth the effort and that your solution has advantages over any current offerings and addresses the customer’s needs  

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? 

  • Funding Opportunities: Compete for a share of the $100,000 total award pool to advance your research. 
  • Entrepreneurial Training: Gain valuable insights and skills through a four-week virtual course (NSF I-Corps Interior Northeast) designed to help you explore the market potential of your work. 
  • Networking: Connect with entrepreneurial judges and fellow innovators, expanding your professional network. 
  • Market Readiness: Move your early-stage discoveries towards commercialization and make a real-world impact. 

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 12, 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.

Previous Winners

2023-2024 SHRS Innovation Challenge Results

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.

  • Presenters: James Coyle; Erin Lucatorto; Amanda Mahoney
  • Mentor: John McIntosh

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.

  • Presenters: Jessica Steinberg and Danielle Scott
  • Mentor: Lloyd Cooper

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.

  • Presenter: Julia Faieta
  • Mentor: Dan Seitam

Monthly Seminar Series

Participate in the Pitt Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship's monthly Innovation Seminar Series.
Pitt faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend the seminar as well as present their work.