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Frontiers Fund Eligibility Requirements and Evaluation

Program Design
Program Eligibility
Program Evaluation
Funding and Allowable Costs
Program Resources
Contact

The application period will run from Aug. 4 – Nov. 21, 2025 at 1 p.m. EST.

Program Design

Applicants must be based at a Massachusetts not-for-profit research institution working as Principal Investigators on a project that is researching historically underfunded and understudied sectors of the life sciences.

  • The Frontiers Fund will offer phased awards that increase over time based on progress milestones:
Phase
Focus
Capital Funds
General Funds
Time
Phase I
Feasibility & early data
Up to $100,000
Up to $100,000
1 Year
Phase II
Translational validation
Up to $400,000
Up to $200,000
2 Years
Phase III
Partnership readiness
Up to $250,000
Up to $100,000
1 Year

Program Eligibility

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Full or part time employee at a not-for-profit Massachusetts-based research institution
  • There are no limits on the number of proposals that may be submitted by each non-profit institution, however, each individual Principal Investigator may only submit one application.
  • The project must have a human health focus in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnostics or imaging, bioinformatics, digital health, genomics, nanotechnology, drug delivery, proteomics, regenerative medicine, etc.
  • Funding must be used to support an experiment or experiments that increase(s) the translational opportunity with a defined goal such as filing patents, securing a sponsored research agreement, attracting other industry support, etc.
  • The Applicant and Grantee institution must be in compliance with all other Center agreements, if any.
  • Applicants must be a Massachusetts legally organized “not-for-profit” entity such as an academic/research institution, hospital engaged in research, business incubator or accelerator, or other not-for-profit entity that would be eligible for capital funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Institutions that are exclusively health care providers and/or requests for the purchase of equipment associated with standard healthcare delivery would not be eligible for capital funding.

Program Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated through a competitive, peer-review process by a panel of external experts from academia and industry with domain expertise. Reviewers will score proposals based on the following:

  • Scientific and technical merit of the proposed research.
  • Qualifications of the investigative team, including relevant experience and track record.
  • Significance and unmet need in addressing key challenges in one of the program Areas of Focus
  • Translational potential, particularly the likelihood of advancing toward new therapies, diagnostics, or clinical applications.
  • Feasibility and clarity of project plan, including well-defined milestones and endpoints.
  • Potential impact on the Massachusetts life sciences ecosystem.

Awardees and their institutions must remain in compliance with all applicable MLSC agreements and reporting requirements throughout the funding period.

Funding and Allowable Costs

  • Allowable capital expenses include: research supplies, reagents, hardware/software purchases, and data generation via core facilities.
  • Not allowable expenses include: direct labor, overhead/indirect costs, renting space for storage of memory, software development, monthly cloud storage fees, other monthly subscription fees, legal expenses, travel, paying off debt, paying for operating costs such as rent and utilities and activities funded by other funding sources.
  • All capital assets must be made publicly available.
  • Allowable general expenses include: select salaries (including fringe up to 30%), consultant fees, legal fees, travel, and indirect costs.
  • Indirect costs are capped at 15% of direct costs (e.g., max of $26,087 for an award of $200,000).
  • Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis in accordance with terms outlined in the Grant Agreement.

Program Resources:

Connect with us to learn more

If you have any questions regarding the application process, e-mail: mlscindustryprograms@masslifesciences.com.

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