THE EAST AFRICA BIOSCIENCES STUDIO CALL FOR INNOVATORS

Summary:

The Genomics-Driven Early Diagnosis Challenge for Breast and Prostate Cancer aims to catalyze innovation and collaboration in leveraging genomic data for precision oncology and early cancer detection. By harnessing the power of genomics, we can revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of personalized medicine.

Objective:

Harness the power of genomics to develop innovative solutions for the early detection of breast and prostate cancer, with the aim of improving accuracy, accessibility, and personalized treatment options.

Challenge Overview:

Genomic advancements have revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology and personalized medicine. This challenge seeks to leverage genomics to identify biomarkers, genetic signatures, and molecular pathways associated with breast and prostate cancer for early detection and intervention. By integrating genomic data with cutting-edge technologies and computational analytics, participants will develop transformative solutions that pave the way for precision oncology and improved patient outcomes.

Key Focus Areas:

1.     Genomic Biomarker Discovery: Identify and validate genomic biomarkers associated with early-stage breast and prostate cancer using high-throughput sequencing, bioinformatics, and functional genomics approaches.

2. Liquid Biopsy Technologies: Develop non-invasive liquid biopsy assays capable of detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), RNA, and other biomolecules for early cancer detection and monitoring of treatment response.

3. Machine Learning and Predictive Models: Utilize machine learning algorithms and predictive models to integrate genomic, clinical, and imaging data for accurate risk assessment, early diagnosis, and prognosis prediction of breast and prostate cancer.

4. Targeted Therapeutics: Design targeted therapeutic strategies based on genomic profiling to deliver personalized treatment options tailored to the molecular characteristics of individual tumors.

5. Data Privacy and Ethical Considerations:  Address ethical, legal, and privacy concerns associated with genomic data sharing, consent, and patient confidentiality to ensure responsible implementation and adoption of genomic-driven diagnostic solutions. 

 Judging Criteria:

1.          Genomic Innovation:  Novelty and significance of the genomic approach or technology proposed. 

2.          Clinical Impact:  Potential impact on improving early diagnosis rates, patient outcomes, and healthcare delivery.

3.          Technical Excellence:  Rigor, accuracy, and reproducibility of the genomic assays or computational methods utilized.

4.          Interdisciplinary Collaboration:  Collaboration across diverse disciplines (e.g., genomics, oncology, bioinformatics) to address the challenge effectively.

5.          Ethical and Regulatory Compliance:  Adherence to ethical standards, regulatory guidelines, and data privacy principles in genomic research and clinical practice.

  Prizes:

The teams with the best ideas will be awarded a 3-month innovation fellowship at Villgro Africa’s Venture Studio in Nairobi, Kenya.  Fellows will be provided with accommodation, stipend, access to advanced laboratories with biobank, next generation sequencing (NGS), computational biology facilities, training, and technical support worth up to USD 50,000 to pilot their ideas, with a chance to pitch to investors and industry for venture capital and partnerships.

Timeline:

·         Announcement of Challenge: 7th June, 2024

·         Submission Deadline: 14th July, 2024

·         Judging and Evaluation: 15 – 18th July, 2024

·         Winner Announcement: 29th July, 2024

·         In-residence Innovation Fellowship: 2^nd Sept – 29^th Nov, 2024

Eligibility:

·Teamwork: Applications must be submitted by teams of 2 or 3 innovators with the requisite and complimentary expertise/skills to develop and commercialize their idea e.g. oncology, immunology, genomics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, bioentrepreneurship, diagnostics/drugs/vaccines development etc. Single applicant/innovator applications will not be accepted.

· The call is open to Ethiopia and East African Community (EAC) citizens only.  Team members can be citizens of the same country or different countries if their country is eligible.  Please check here to confirm if your country is a member of the EAC.

·  Language: Applications from Francophone EAC member states are eligible, however applications will be submitted in English and the team must have sufficient mastery of English to actively participate and benefit from the Fellowship program.

·  Ideas submitted must be novel and not infringing on the intellectual property of others, including the applicants’ affiliated institutions

·  Women innovators are encouraged to apply and gender diversity in teams is encouraged. 

How to Participate:

1.      Register for the challenge on the Origin Research & Innovation Labs Challenge Platform and form interdisciplinary teams of 2 or 3 persons that brings together complimentary expertise in genomics, oncology, bioinformatics, and related fields.

2.      Develop and submit a detailed proposal outlining your innovative genomic-driven solution for early diagnosis of breast and prostate cancer, addressing the key focus areas and judging criteria.

3.      Finalists will be invited to present their solutions to a panel of judges for evaluation.

4.     Winners will be selected based on the judging criteria, and the team proposing the best ideas will be invited to form the first cohort of Biosciences Studio Innovation Fellows in September 2024.

5.      If you have challenges in finding team members you can learn how to post your concept on the Origin Challenge Platform to attract like-minded innovators with the complimentary expertise/skills by clicking here.

About Villgro Africa

Villgro Africa is an early stage business incubator and impact investor that is pioneering social entrepreneurship and impact investment in healthcare and life sciences in Africa. We believe the problem is not in the lack of technology or know-how to solve Africa’s health problems, but the lack of a convincing business case to warrant the effort. By providing seed capital and bespoke incubation support, we work with entrepreneurs to develop and deliver innovative health solutions that are technically and commercially viable.

About the East Africa Biosciences Studio

The East Africa Biosciences Studio is a Villgro Africa initiative to catalyze medtech (medical devices & in vitro diagnostics) and biopharmaceutical innovative ventures in Africa. The goal of this venture studio is to facilitate entrepreneurial scientists and engineers to get started on their startup journey by providing laboratories, expertise, education, tools, resources, industry and investment networks to kickstart and life science startups to thrive.  Villgro Africa is partnering with Origin Africa East Africa Hub, a regional research & innovation lab; a leading genomics contract research organization (CRO); and, Jaza Rift Ventures, a venture capital and advisory management company that is investing in digital health, medtech and biotech startups in Africa.