Regenstrief Research Scientist Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH, was one of 33 mentors for the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging (NIA) 2022 Healthy Aging Start-up Challenge and Bootcamp.
Bootcamp mentors are entrepreneurs, scientists and investors who coach a group of emerging entrepreneurs from a variety of backgrounds as they pursue start-up ideas for healthy aging. Other mentors included other technical, medical and research professionals from institutions such as Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
Each year, NIA provides more than $100 million in research and development grants to small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. NIA has a considerable budget for research and development for the interventions that prevent or treat Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This funding is no-strings-attached and non-dilutive through programs that support small businesses.
All program applicants are expected to develop, implement and test the effectiveness of their products and services. 2022’s Healthy Aging Start-up Challenge and Bootcamp took place April 27 through May 23.
The NIA’s Small Business Programs thanked this year’s mentors for their participation on the organization’s LinkedIn page: “The 2022 NIA Healthy Aging Start-up Challenge and Bootcamp would not be possible without the support from our mentors! These experienced entrepreneurs, scientists and investors will play a pivotal role in coaching the diverse group of finalists as they pursue start-up ideas in the field of Healthy Aging.”
This program was launched to foster diversity and accelerate innovation within the growing community of aging researchers. The goal of the program’s prize is to stimulate innovation and foster diversity in aging research and entrepreneurship.
More information can be found on the NIA’s Small Business Programs here.
In addition to his role as a research scientist with the Indiana University Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief Institute, Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH, is the founding director of the Center for Health Innovation an Implementation Science. He is a professor and the Richard M. Fairbanks Chair in Aging Research at Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Boustani is also director of care innovation at Eskenazi Health.
