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Our Mission

VIRGINIA CATALYST creates stronger working partnerships between Virginia academic research universities, the biotechnology industry and health delivery systems that lead to greater collaboration, more movement of ideas & technology from academia to industry and health delivery systems. The goal is to create an environment that fosters relationships that makes Virginia a leader in collaboration, innovation, startups and job creation.
VBHRC funds significant translational research and commercialization opportunities in the neurosciences, cardio/metabolic diseases, infectious diseases and cancer. Areas of focus include:

• Bioinformatics and medical informatics
• Point of care diagnostics
• Drug discovery and delivery.

In just 4 Years the CATALYST

Funded $10 million for 24 projects involving
6 Virginia research universities and 19 industry partners!  As a result, VBHRC

Brought $20 million to Virginia in private funds
Increased job growth in Virginia's biosciences

AND the funded projects have a total of $80 million in follow on investment!

VBHRC Funding

The VBHRC provides grants of $200,000 to $800,000 per project to accelerate translational research and commercialization of breakthrough technologies in the life sciences. ​ The purpose of funding is to:

• Fund innovative, collaborative, translational research projects that elevate the level of sponsored research and have the potential to significantly improve human health and create high value jobs in the Commonwealth.
• Develop a process which is robust, objective, and defendable in design and execution, and which yields powerful collaborations that produce world class technologies, products and services.

Click here for more information on funding criteria.

​Neuroscience Initiative

The Virginia Neuroscience Initiative (VNI) is an innovative, statewide collaborative approach that brings experienced neuroscientists, medical providers, clinicians, and industry partners together to accelerate research on neurological disorders.  Capitalizing on our Commonwealth's combined strength, expertise, and resources in the neuroscience fields, this initiative positions us for greater numbers of research funding from government, private equity, philanthropy, and corporate sponsors.  
Click here for more information on the Neuroscience Initiative.