
Fast Forward Medical Innovation
We offer a groundbreaking innovation program in collaboration with the renowned Rogel Cancer Center.
The Rogel Cancer Center Innovation Program is an educational initiative designed to help faculty, clinicians, and research scientists develop novel therapeutics and successfully communicate the value of their research to secure commercialization resources.
The program will consist of a project-based course and case study webinars from experts in the field.
The Rogel Cancer Center Innovation Program is a collaborative initiative with leadership and support from Innovation Partnerships and Michigan Drug Discovery.
Apply Now (Applications are due Wednesday, March 26)
Fast Forward Medical Innovation offers a comprehensive collection of educational programs and training tailored for busy faculty, students, clinicians, and researchers across the University of Michigan, and across the state, region, and nation.
The hybrid project-based course will feature a “flipped classroom” format, allowing participants the flexibility to consume learning materials at their desired pace and complete customized assignments for the individual goals of their research project. Participants will review relevant learning materials and prepare a slide deck prior to each session. During each checkpoint and coaching session, participants will present their slides and receive feedback and instruction from teaching team mentors. The course will conclude with a finale pitch event in which project teams will compete for project funding.
Course Dates – 2025
This is a ten-week course comprised of instructional webinars, a group checkpoint, and individual coaching sessions to be scheduled at your convenience. Webinar information will be posted at a later date.
- Kickoff begins Friday, April 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM (EDT)
- 6 weekly individual coaching sessions to be scheduled at your convenience between April 7 and June 6
- 3 webinars featuring oncology therapeutic commercialization case studies from experts in the field (speakers, dates, and times will be posted here when available)
- Group coaching sessions on Friday, April 25 and Friday, May 16, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM (EDT)
- Finale Event on Friday, June 6 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
Who Should Apply?
- Faculty clinicians, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and other trainees from U-M Rogel Cancer Center-affiliated labs and clinics interested in taking a deep dive into commercializing oncology therapeutics
Application
Please apply to be considered for the Rogel CC Innovation Program Course. The registration deadline for the course is Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

This lecture provides an overview of current trends in oncology therapeutic discovery and development. By the end of the series, you’ll be able to:
- Outline the key stages of the oncology therapeutic discovery process
- Identify key oncology therapeutic discovery decision criteria
- Describe the importance of identifying a good oncology target
- Describe how to identify a good target

The second lecture in the series focuses on key business and commercial topics in oncology therapeutics. By the end of the lecture, you’ll be able to:
-Explain the importance of identifying unmet clinical need
-Define Target Product Profile (TPP)
-Name the key factors and considerations that comprise a TPP
-Identify the current standard of care and the market opportunity that exists within any gaps in care
-Compare and contrast the competitive advantage and the current standard of care
-Determine which commercial pathway best fits a given oncology therapeutic

In the third lecture, we’ll begin discussing pre-clinical discovery activities. By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:
- Explain how a target is validated pre-clinically
- Name the key components of the assay development process
- Name the key features of the selection and optimization process
- Describe the role of in vivo assays in the pre-clinical discovery process
- Explain how to select a candidate compound for further development

Lecture 4 will move from pre-clinical discovery to development. By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:
- Describe how to initiate and execute dosing studies
- Explain the importance of the following IND application items:
- Animal pharmacology and toxicology
- Pre-clinical data to permit assessment

The lecture series will conclude with a discussion of the clinical phase of oncology target and therapeutic development. By the end of this lecture, you’ll be able to:
- Illustrate how to design a clinical trial and outcomes
- Explain how to select the right patient population for clinical trials

Life Sciences at Innovation Partnerships

Innovation Partnerships

Innovation Partnerships
Fast Forward Medical Innovation


Fast Forward Medical Innovation

Fast Forward Medical Innovation

Director, Michigan Drug Discovery


Building 520, 3rd Floor
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800