What does it take to form a successful startup? Join the Technology & Innovation Development Office (TIDO) for a seminar exploring the key factors you need to consider when forming a new company as well as the details of how the process works within Boston Children’s Hospital. Guest speakers Rick Malley and Steve Brugger will present the formation story of Affinivax, a successful BCH spin-out, from formation to acquisition by GSK with a structured interview moderated by Irene Abrams, Senior Vice President for Research Innovation. Refreshments will be provided.

Refreshments will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Please RSVP here.

Guest Speakers:

Richard Malley, MD | Senior Physician, Division of Infection Diseases, Kenneth McIntosh Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases |Boston Children’s Hospital | Co-founder of Affinivax

Steven Brugger, MBA | CEO, Board Director | BrainChild Bio | Co-founder and former CEO of Affinivax

Moderator:

Irene Abrams | Senior Vice President for Research Innovation |Boston Children’s Hospital

Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Time: 10-11:30 AM
Location: Folkman Auditorium
RSVP: Click here.

Deerfield has pledged up to $65 million with the goal of facilitating the translation and commercialization of novel biomedical research at Boston Children’s Hospital through a new collaboration called Blackfan Circle Innovations. Through Blackfan Circle, Boston Children’s Hospital scientists have the opportunity to submit therapeutic proposals for potential funding.

Deerfield will provide research funding and operational support in product development and commercialization to co-develop the jointly-selected research therapeutic candidates with the goal of achieving Investigational New Drug (IND) readiness. Successful projects that reach IND-enabled status may receive additional funding.

We would like to invite BCH investigators to begin the submission process to Blackfan Circle Innovations, the newly established entity created to accelerate research at BCH.

Areas of Interest:

  • Broad interest across all therapeutic areas and modalities
  • Early-stage projects with potential to progress to IND-enabled status, early clinical development, and human proof-of-concept

Proposal Process:

  • Proposal Concept Sheet
  • Letter of Intent
  • Full Proposal and Presentation

In order to engage initial interest with Blackfan Circle Innovations, TIDO encourages BCH investigators to submit one or more Proposal Concept Sheet(s), each of which will constitute a brief overview of the proposed project focusing on the areas listed below.

  • Genetic Evidence
  • Biologic Rationale
  • Preclinical Execution
  • Unmet Need
  • Clinical Development (if applicable)
  • Novelty/ Differentiation

A Proposal Concept Sheet submission template will be provided by TIDO. For more information on proposal submission to Blackfan Circle Innovations, a copy of the Proposal Concept Sheet, or questions related to the application process, please contact Sabrina Kamran, Strategic Alliance Manager at Sabrina.Kamran@childrens.harvard.edu.

If your Proposal Concept Sheet is selected for advancement, you will be asked to complete a Letter of Intent with a more detailed description of the proposed project. Finally, at the Full Proposal stage of evaluation, you will be asked to submit a detailed research plan and budget and meet with the Deerfield review team to discuss your proposal. Deerfield Discovery and Development experts will be available to consult with you on your proposal throughout the entire evaluation process.

Who Can Apply:

  • Full-time BCH Principal Investigators
  • Principal Investigators with faculty appointment who are subject to Boston Children’s policies regarding the conduct of research and ownership of intellectual property

Submissions:

Proposal Concept Sheets submitted to Blackfan Circle Innovations will be considered on a rolling basis, with operational and scientific guidance and support from TIDO during the submission process.