We start by working with clinicians to find out what tests they need most to improve health care delivery using the question: where can a new blood test improve patient care and create socio-economic value? We then turn these clinical questions into biomarker programs. This approach reduces commercialization risks by ensuring that our discovery process will address an unmet need.
Our Translational Advisory Committee (TAC) reviews all PROOF Centre biomarker programs based on the criteria below, and help guide them efficiently through the pipeline. Potential projects need to comply with both the NCE CECR Goal and Objectives and the following criteria:
PROOF Centre Mandate Criteria
- Organ Failure Focus (hearts/vascular, kidneys, lungs)
- Clinical Importance (biomedical, societal, economic)
- PROOF Centre Added Value (Linkage of cohorts, samples, and assays for broad use in PROOF Centre)
- Value to PROOF Centre (shared intellectual property [IP] or other value)
- Focus on Translation of Early Results (validation, implementation or commercialization)
- Project Costs Identified (PROOF contribution and partner funding)
- Timelines for Early Wins (by early 2012)
Commercial Feasibility Criteria
- Intellectual Property Assessment (patentability, freedom to operate)
- Economic Analysis (wealth creation and/or health care savings)
- Market Assessment (competitors, size, unmet need, etc.)
- Valuable Endpoint (targets, assays, regulatory submission, etc.)
Scientific and Technical Feasibility Criteria
- Cohort Excellence (in hand, rapid accrual, unique population, quality)
- Model Systems Excellence
- Leadership and Team Excellence
