The Massey TBI Grand Challenge
The Massey Grand Challenge
Supporting research and innovation to transform the "golden hours" of care after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Supporting innovative, high-risk ideas to transform outcomes in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge is a powerful funding avenue for multidisciplinary critical care research teams that supports the development of diagnostic, device, therapeutic, or health IT solutions addressing the initial ‘golden hours’ of care after severe traumatic brain injury.
The Grand Challenge framework addresses the barriers between concept and realization by providing unique tools and resources to funded teams. The process includes education sessions, two rounds of detailed proposal submissions, and project reviews by TBI experts from across the nation including U-M, industry, and the Department of Defense.
IMPORTANT: To be considered for funding, you and/or a member of your team must attend the February 25 kickoff event.
This event is open to all U-M faculty and staff. Participants from outside organizations are welcome to participate provided at least one PI on their team is from the University of Michigan.
See Previously Funded Projects
2026 Keynote Speaker - Jamie Ullman, MD, FACS, FAANS, FCNS
Dr. Jamie Ullman is Board Certified in Neurological Surgery and a Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She currently serves as the Director of Neurotrauma and Quality Improvement for the Northwell Health Department of Neurosurgery and is also a Director on the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Ullman is a past president of Women in Neurosurgery. She served as Vice President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), making her the first woman to be elected to an officer’s position in the organization’s 70+-year history. She is also a past recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Ullman also served as the Chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/CNS Section on Neurotrauma and Critical Care. In addition, Dr. Ullman is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and served as chief of the neurosurgery subspecialty group of the prestigious ACS Committee on Trauma as well as a 6-year term on the Board of Governors. For 21 years, she was a Commissioner of Health-appointed neurosurgeon member of the New York State Trauma Advisory Committee.
2026 Massey Grand Challenge Timeline
- By March 11: If you would like your 2-page proposals to be reviewed prior to the official submission, they must be submitted to Meagan Ramsey ([email protected]), Director of the Weil Institute Proposal Development Team, by this date. Please email Meagan in advance to let her know that you would like her to review your proposal.
- March 18: Deadline for 2-page proposals
- By April 8: Teams invited to submit 10-page proposals / participate in the Wolverine Den pitch day event will be notified by this date
- June 1: Wolverine Den pitch day
One gift, endless breakthroughs.
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge is made possible through the generous support of the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation.
Since 2015, the foundation’s support has enabled us to bring together experts from around the world, share knowledge, and spark rapid-fire innovation across the field of TBI.
The TBI Grand Challenge is one of 3 programs under the Massey TBI umbrella, which also includes the Massey TBI Conference and Joyce Massey TBI Summit.
Grand Challenge Competition Details
Scoring Criteria
The Massey TBI Grand Challenge accepts both new projects as well as competitive renewals (previous Grand Challenge awardees applying for follow-on funding). Please be sure to submit your proposal using the correct template on Competition Space. Submission links will be made available following the March 13 kickoff event.
NEW PROJECTS
- Relevance to Massey TBI Grand Challenge Focus
- Does your project focus on a clinically important gap in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of severe TBI in the initial hours after injury?
- Clinical Impact
- If successful, would your project have significant clinical impact?
- Research Plan
- Will results of your study be reliable and actionable?
- Realistic Budget & Timeline
- Can results be achieved with the funds requested in the time allocated?
COMPETITIVE RENEWALS
- Research Plan
- Will results of this next stage of study be reliable and actionable?
- Project Management
- How has your team managed their past milestones and/or any issues that have arisen during the previous funding cycle?
- Progress Toward Commercialization and/or Follow-On Funding
- Is your project at a stage where Massey TBI Grand Challenge funding will move it closer toward commercialization or additional follow-on funding?
- Realistic Budget & Timeline
- Can results be achieved with the funds in the time allocated?
Grand Challenge FAQs
The Grand Challenge supports high-impact proposals by funding milestone-driven research over a 12-month timeframe. To be successful, teams must:
- Think inside and outside the box and propose high risk, high reward projects that specifically address the needs of patients with traumatic brain injury
- Multidisciplinary teams of researchers are favored
- Projects with more viable plans for acceleration are favored – work must lead to a next significant level/step to bedside (i.e. jump form rodent to large animal, jump from large animal to clinical feasibility, etc.)
- A product, method, process, must be proposed (not typical discovery basic science)
- Does not have to have intellectual property (questions about IP can be directed to Weil’s Commercialization Coach, Jay Semerad – [email protected])
- Need help finding an interdisciplinary team? Through our network of members, we can help connect you with the right Co-PI for your project.
- The Weil team will review 2-page proposals before submission for any teams interested in receiving feedback. Proposals must be emailed to [email protected] by the date listed in the timeline above.
- Mentors and coaches will continue to collaborate with project teams after they have been funded.
- The Weil Institute will support and review quarterly progress reports, submitted to the Massey Oversight Committee.
- Our Commercialization Coach and team will work with teams as new inventions/IP is disclosed to the U-M Office of Innovation Partnerships in advance of a public disclosure and to make sure milestones are met.
- Our Proposal Development team can help teams with follow-on funding.
