Fast Forward Medical Innovation

We offer resources, support, and mentorship to world-class biomedical researchers at the University of Michigan, and across the state. 

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The Front Door to Biomedical Commercialization

Our mission at Fast Forward Medical Innovation (FFMI) is to provide the expertise and knowledge to help access and navigate the unparalleled biomedical innovation resources at the University of Michigan.

Whether you’re a student, faculty, potential collaborator, or industry partner, we encourage you to connect with a Fast Forward Medical Innovation team member to explore our program's unique offerings and find your path to groundbreaking innovation.

FFMI is part of a rich ecosystem of opportunities available to biomedical researchers at the University of Michigan. Together with our collaborators, we work to create a robust network of resources that help drive innovation to successful commercialization. The FFMI team is here to provide mentorship and guidance to the abundant funding, education, and support structure resources that will benefit your research. We look forward to working with you!

Frequently Used Links
  • FFMI fastPACE
  • Partner Program - Frankel Cardiovascular Center
  • Biotech Career Development Program
  • Innovation Partnerships
  • Center for Entrepreneurship
  • MTRAC Innovation Hub for Life Sciences
  • Frankel Innovation Initiative
  • Zell Lurie Institute
  • MICHR
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    New! Industry-Ready Webinar Series

    The Industry-Ready webinar series provides faculty and staff with practical guidance on how to effectively engage with industry partners.

    Through sessions led by experienced faculty, industry professionals, and university experts, participants will learn how collaborations are structured, what industry looks for in academic partners, and how to navigate agreement types, intellectual property, and institutional resources.

    Commercialization Education

    Dynamic educational resources for biomedical innovators to nurture entrepreneurship and groundbreaking research

    Mentorship & Funding

    Idea consultations to explore how your research can translate out of the university, including opportunities for funding

    Innovation Portfolio

    Searchable database of research expertise across the University of Michigan

    Business Development

    Business catalyst, building successful relationships between U-M biomedical researchers and corporate partners

    Michigan Biomedical Venture Fund

    Investments in biomedical startup companies with U-M licensed IP in the domain of therapeutics, devices, diagnostics, or health IT

    Meet the Team

    Experienced team members provide support, mentorship, and guidance

    FFMI oncology course
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    Apply Today! Oncology Drug Discovery & Development (3D) Workshop

    Fast Forward Medical Innovation and Pfizer are offering an educational, one-day program to provide participants with an interactive, team-based learning experience of the drug discovery and development process.
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    Drug Discovery and Development Course

    The Drug Discovery and Development Course, a virtual, self-paced course, teaches participants the individual steps and critical stages for any drug discovery project, with a particular focus on projects being conducted within the academic environment at the University of Michigan.
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    Frankel Cardiovascular Center Innovation Webinars

    Presented by the Frankel CVC and FFMI, the this webinar series aims to educate on topics of interest regarding cardiovascular innovation, encourage innovative thinking, and connect the community with resources to help further the advancement of ideas.
    FFMI Cagri Besirli lab
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    Tool Helps Facilitate Collaboration with Industry

    The FFMI BD team's Collaborator Hub is designed to showcase faculty to potential industry partners. Collaborators can use this searchable database to find U-M faculty members whose expertise aligns with their needs.
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    Fall Cohort Registration Available Soon!

    FFMI fastPACE is a virtual, project-based, experiential course designed to help academics launch new innovations, including medical devices/diagnostics, digital solutions, drugs, educational/training interventions, research tools, and many others.
    FFMI Innovation Studio
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    Innovation Studio Offers Project-based Consultations- Next Session is Tuesday, July 21

    Innovation Studio participants will get the chance to engage and consult with experts from Fast Forward Medical Innovation and the broader University of Michigan entrepreneurship network.
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    Fast Forward Medical Innovation

    Our Impact
    2025 was another record-breaking year of biomedical innovation at the University of Michigan, and Fast Forward Medical Innovation is thrilled to be part of the rich ecosystem of innovation resources that contributed to this impressive accomplishment.
    View Our 2025 Impact Report
    918
    faculty, staff, and trainee participants in commercialization education programs from U-M and across the state
    $147M
    Industry Research Awards
    286
    Invention Reports
    350M+
    follow-on investment (in 21 portfolio startups)
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    Newsletter

    Get a monthly digest of medical research and innovation, straight to your inbox.

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    Questions?

    Contact Us

    Fast Forward Medical Innovation
    University of Michigan Medical School
    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Phone: 734-615-5060

    About Us
    Fast Forward Medical Innovation is a unit of the Medical School Office of Research, where our mission is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the Michigan Medicine research community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.

    Upcoming Research Events

     All Office of Research Events

    FFMI Industry-Ready Webinar Series: Agreement Types and When to Use Them
    "Agreement Types and When to Use Them" provides a practical overview of the most common agreement structures used in academic–industry collaborations.
    faculty member typing on computer inside office

    Ask Lu Anything: Insights in Single-Cell & Spatial Omics with Dr. Luciano Martelotto
    Bring your toughest questions; leave with practical answers on single cell and spatial genomics with Dr. Luciano Martelotto. Join the BRCF Advanced Genomics Core and Waters Biosciences for an engaging session at NCRC. Lunch will be provided.
    A decorative image of cells

    The Funding Forum
    Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
    Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
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    FFMI Industry-Ready Webinar Series: IP, Data, and Publications in Industry-Sponsored Research
    "IP, Data, and Publications in Industry-Sponsored Research" explores the key considerations around intellectual property, data management, and publication rights in industry collaborations.
    faculty member typing on computer inside office

    New England Biolabs Product Showcase
    Join the BRCF Research Store and New England Biolabs to learn about products, including what's new. Enjoy coffee, donuts, and giveaways!
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    Oncology Drug Discovery & Development (3D) Workshop
    Fast Forward Medical Innovation and Pfizer offer an educational, one-day program to provide participants with an interactive, team-based learning experience of the drug discovery and development process. Apply by Wednesday, July 1!
    FFMI oncology course

    The Funding Forum
    Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
    Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
    A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

    Researchpalooza
    Join exhibitors from labs and offices of the Medical School and across campus for this annual event showcasing the services provided to research faculty, staff, and students.
    people at Researchpalooza event outdoors

    The Funding Forum
    Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
    Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
    A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

    Featured Research News

     All Office of Research News     four people sitting at a table with laptops collaborating
    Office of Research

    New Research Team Collaboration Agreement Template

    The Office of Regulatory Affairs has developed a Research Team Collaboration Agreement, a template to help teams establish and maintain clear communication through the project lifecycle.
         a photo of the Veteran's Administration building in Ann Arbor Michigan
    Office of Research

    New Requirement for Dual Appointment VA Faculty Serving as PIs on U-M Sponsored Projects

    Veterans Administration (VA) and University of Michigan dual-appointed faculty proposing research through U-M often plan to use resources (space, staff, subject pools, equipment, etc) at the VA. In these circumstances, the national VA requires that a Federal Conflict of Interest (FCOI) waiver be received BEFORE the application is submitted (18 U.S.C. §208). To support the VA in achieving compliance, Michigan Medicine is implementing a review of disclosure prior to U-M submission. Beginning July 1, 2026, all VA–U-M dual-appointed faculty serving as a PI and using resources that require VA regulatory approval must obtain an FCOI waiver through the VA before submitting the grant through U-M.
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    Office of Research

    Ordering from the BRCF Research Store Is Now Easier

    On Monday, July 6, the BRCF Research Store will implement a new e-commerce platform, making it much easier to purchase and track biomedical research supply orders. A new invoice format begins on Monday, June 29.