Vision 4 Mars Challenge

Vision & Space

NSBRI Industry Forum Initiative & Public-Private Partnership

Highlights of the Challenge: Grant Funding for Small U.S.-based Companies

THE APPLICATION PERIOD HAS ENDED
Focus on Ophthalmology
Non-dilutive seed funding
Follow-on funding possible
At least three grants by March, 2015 ($100K each)
Easy online application (First Stage: 1-2 pages)
UPDATE: See a list of Winners here!

Visual Disorders In Space & How Ophthalmology Can Help

NSBRI Industry Forum announces the Vision for Mars challenge aimed at safeguarding the eye in space by way of a public-private partnership that brings together a veritable “dream team” of world renowned ophthalmologists and business people and Industry Forum and its advisors (Astronauts, Researchers, Executives, and Doctors) to determine the etiology of and treatments for a newly described visual impairment syndrome in astronauts. NASA needs next generation clinical diagnostic and research-enabling technologies that will provide critical information about ocular health during spaceflight. These technologies must be small, robust and easy to use for non-experts.

The Vision for Mars challenge coincides with an ongoing Industry Forum initiative called SMARTCAP (Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program), which identifies and funds small U.S.-based companies developing disruptive medical technologies. The NSBRI Industry Forum and NSBRI’s Science Office will convene key industry leaders with expertise in ophthalmology and medical device commercialization in order to identify appropriate diagnostic technologies worthy of support. Competitive funding opportunities provided through SMARTCAP will fast-track development for operational use. This initiative will help mitigate the Risk of Spaceflight-Induced Vision Impairment and Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) Syndrome.

The Vision 4 Mars Program

November 6, 2014: Conference in Houston
November 6 to December 4, 2014: Working Groups established to identify commercial and pre-commercial technologies/products
January 16, 2015: Deadline for SMARTCAP applications
March, 2015: Results of SMARTCAP competition announced – seed funding of selected ophthalmology-focused companies

Conference Deliverables

Education of ophthalmic industry leaders about the VIIP syndrome
Identification of key players in ophthalmic technology development whose commercial goals align with those of the space program
Education of NSBRI and NASA by the ophthalmology industry leaders about commercially available state-of-the-art diagnostic devices
Identification and prioritization of promising next generation technologies or modifications of existing commercial devices
Identification and crafting of private/public partnering for funding R&D on high priority new technologies
Conference report (see “Conference Outcomes” below)
Up to six candidate companies will be selected from all applicants to compete for SMARTCAP funding of $100,000 each for up to three companies

Conference Outcomes

The Vision for Mars Team was briefed by NASA and NSBRI on the ophthalmic findings in astronauts during the November 6^th conference in Houston. The team spent the afternoon discussing the needs and required technologies and made several important recommendations. Read More

Examples of Technologies and Approaches Needed by NASA

Ability to determine refraction in space
Visual field testing in space
An easier and more accurate way to measure Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in space
Ability to measure scleral thickness at the posterior pole in space
Techniques to image the retinal and other eye vasculature in space
Ways to determine “benign” versus “harmful” disc edema
Ability to estimate translaminar pressure across lamina cribrosa

The Ophthalmology Dream Team

William J. Link, Ph.D. Managing Director

Versant Ventures  Click here for full bio.

Eugene de Juan, Jr., MD

Founder & Vice Chairman,  ForSight Labs  Click here for full bio.

Richard L. Lindstrom, MD

Founder & Attending Surgeon,  Minnesota Eye Consultants  Click here for full bio.

Jane E. Rady, MS, MBA

Divisional VP, Business Development  Abbott Medical Optics  Click here for full bio.

Randy McDonald

Founder and President,  The Magnum Group, Inc.  Click here for full bio.

Kuldev Singh, MD, MPH

Professor Of Ophthalmology,  The Stanford University Medical Center  Click here for full bio.

Steven Schallhorn, MD

Private Practice Physician, GWS Vision Chief Medical Director, Optical Express  Click here for full bio.

Paul Hallen, MS

Head, Global Retina  Alcon a Novartis Company  Click here for full bio.

John Berdahl, M.D.

Private Practice Physician , Vance Thompson Vision  Click here for full bio.

Bob Main, ABOM

President , Web Vision Centers Group, LLC  Click here for full bio