The program targets researchers preparing to conduct decisive experiments that can validate or de‑risk early-stage innovation projects. Among the selected projects are new approaches to preventing viral infections, improved detection of blood manipulation, and new treatment strategies for ovarian cancer.

”We received many high-quality applications. This demonstrates both that Umeå has a strong research environment within life science and that there is a clear ambition to translate research into societal benefit,” says Pia Keyser, Business Coach at Umeå Biotech Incubator.

Enable critical experiments

The funding initiative is designed to enable critical experiments that are essential for the continued development of research-based innovations within life science.

Each researcher has been awarded up to SEK 300,000 to cover costs associated with conducting their experiments. In total, SEK 970,000 has been distributed among four researchers: Christer Malm, Håkan Hedman, and Iryna Yakovenko from Umeå University, and Manoj Kumar Mandal from SLU and Umeå Plant Science Center.

“The projects we have funded combine high potential with being perfectly positioned for our ‘killer experiment’ call. At the same time, we will follow the progress of the other projects closely, and one or several of them may be suitable for a future UBI application,” says Keyser.

The following researchers have been awarded funding:

  • SEK 300,00: Enhanced Biomarker Detectability for Cryo-RBC Blood Doping – Christer Malm
  • SEK 300,000: Ovarian Cancer Treatment – Håkan Hedman
  • SEK 300,000: Critical Validation of the Single-Cell Assay Components for Telomere and Transcriptome Profiling Using Atrandi Microfluidics – Iryna Yakovenko
  • SEK 70,000: Enzyme Therapy: A New Approach to Prevent Viral Infection – Manoj Kumar Mandal