The GEM Challenge 2021 – Solving Clinical Problems withEngineering Solutions
UC San Diego Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute (ACTRI) and the Institute ofEngineering in Medicine (IEM) in the Jacobs School of Engineering are pleased to announce
the eighth round of the Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine (GEM) competition to identify
clinical challenges for which engineering solutions can be developed and implemented. GEM
has the overarching goal of building a collaborative ecosystem that leverages UCSD's
outstanding strengths in clinical care and engineering to solve important healthcare problems.
Awards in the range of $30,000 for one year will be given.
This year, the GEM competition will have only one submission. We invite teams that include atleast one Clinically Active UCSD Faculty Member and one Engineering Faculty Member as
PIs to submit a proposal. Postdoctoral Fellows and Project Scientists are not eligible to be PIs
but may be members of the team.
Clinical Faculty who are looking for an Engineering Faculty partner or vice-versa should
contact Dr. Deborah Spector (dspector@health.ucsd.edu) or Dr. Andrew McCulloch(amcculloch@eng.ucsd.edu)
The proposal must include two sections. Section One should describe a specific medicalchallenge or unmet need that presents an opportunity for innovation involving an engineeringsolution to improve patient care. Healthcare improvement may be achieved through innovationin disease prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and/or treatment. In Section Two, the team should
describe in detail the engineering technology that will be developed to solve the problem.
Faculty who received a GEM award in 2019 or 2020 are ineligible for this round of competition.
A description of GEM Challenge projects that have previously been selected for funding can befound on the ACTRI web site under the GEM Program.
A panel of Clinicians, Engineers, Business Experts, and Representatives from the Office ofResearch Affairs will judge these applications based on the following criteria:
Significance: To what extent does the problem or challenge impede or adversely affectpatient care and how will the specific engineering solution address and solve the specificchallenge?
Innovation and "Coolness" Factor: To what extent does the problem focus on anunmet medical need that is not being addressed elsewhere? How novel is theengineering approach, and does it bring to bear the unique resources available at UCSD
– expertise, infrastructure, other types of support, particularly in combination? Will
solving the problem be recognized as a landmark advance for healthcare?
Feasibility: Can the engineering solution be accomplished (at least to the developmentof a prototype) in a 12 month time frame with a budget of approximately $30,000?
Future Funding: What continued funding strategies are anticipated (e.g. NIH R01/R21,NSF, SBIR/STTR)?
Commercialization: Can the engineering solution be commercialized and available topatients within a reasonable period of time?
Investigator: How well qualified is the team of clinical and engineering investigators tosolve the problem?
APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Applications should be well-written, precise, and succinct and include the following:•Title Page - Name, Department Affiliation(s), and email address of all PIs and Participating
Investigators, Project Title•

Abstract and Specific Aims (500-word maximum)•Research Design and Methods (six pages maximum – does not include literature cited)Ø Section One - Describe the specific medical challenge or unmet need that presents anopportunity for innovation involving an engineering solution. (one page maximum)
Ø Section Two - Describe in detail the engineering technology that will be developed tosolve the problem. The narrative should include the rationale for its potential
effectiveness, preliminary data, resources to be utilized, feasibility (over 12-month timeframe), existing intellectual property (disclosures and patents filed), parameters forevaluating success, and potential for commercialization. Also summarize the competing
technology and explain why the proposed technology is superior. (five pages maximum)•

Qualifications of the investigators (one page maximum)•NIH-style biographical sketch including current and pending support (four pages maximum
per investigator) for each member of the submitting team.

•Summary of outcomes and commercial status of prior GEM projects involving any memberof the submitting team.

•Budget and Justification (total amount not to exceed $30,000 for one year) – Funds may
only be used for supplies, trainee or technician salary, core lab fees, statistical support forstudy design, and essential equipment for prototype development. A small amount of funds
may be allocated for pilot clinical studies. Note - No funds may be used for faculty salary,
travel, clerical help, office supplies, books and subscriptions, publication expenses, orgraduate student's tuition remissions or fees.

Applications should adhere to the following formatting specifications:
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11-point Arial fontSingle-spaced
0.5 inch margins on all sides
8 ½" x 11" (i.e., standard size) paper
Number all pages
No appendices are allowed

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONAll sections must be collated into a single document (docx or pdf) and submitted as anattachment to an e-mail to Kathleen Kennedy (kkennedy@health.ucsd.edu).
Please contact Dr. Deborah Spector (dspector@health.ucsd.edu) or Kathleen Kennedy(kkennedy@health.ucsd.edu) with any questions about this RFA or the application process.
The deadline for the submission of entries is 5:00 pm on Monday, May 24, 2021.
A selected group of faculty from the ACTRI, IEM, and Rady School of Management will workwith the PIs of the winning proposals to help establish a team and budget to accomplish thegoals of the project over a 12 month period.

Application Deadlines, Notices of Awards, and Funding Cycle
Application Deadline: Monday, May 24, 2021, 5:00 p.m. PT
Notice of Awards: August 1, 2021
Funding Cycle: September 1, 2021–August 31, 2022