About

The Nature Awards Microbiome Accelerator

Translating science from lab to impact.

The Accelerator will identify microbiome research with the potential to transform human health outcomes. Designed to maintain scientific rigour and integrity throughout the translation process the program provides you with the tools, training/mentorship, and connections to translate your groundbreaking research for maximum impact.

This includes funding, expert insights, science communication guidance, mentorship from industry leaders, specialized training, and a translational science intensive residential programme in London, UK. The Microbiome Accelerator residential programme features a series of hands-on workshops covering the entire translation process, from discovery through development, clinical validation, science communication, and go-to-market strategy.
In our first year, the accelerator will focus on microbiome interventions that enhance human health outcomes.

This includes:

  • Approaches designed to manipulate, modulate, or otherwise influence the composition and function of the microbiome to promote optimal health outcomes.
  • Research that could lead to an array of products and treatment modalities including prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics and live bacterial therapeutics.
  • Innovative solutions that target all aspects of human health are eligible, with a particular emphasis on the following areas: longevity, women's health (menopause, vaginal health, etc.), gut-brain axis, skin health, gut health, delivery and technology development.
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Key dates

  • Launch date: 15th April 2024
  • Application deadline: 24th June 2024
  • Application assessment: June to August 2024
  • Successful applicants notified: September 2024
  • Residential training programme: 11th–15th November 2024
Concept illustration Concept illustration

Prizes

Four winners will each receive:

  • A $10,000 grant to support the commercialization of your research.
  • An immersive residential training programme at Springer Nature Headquarters in central London, with commercialization experts, microbiome leaders, Springer Nature editors and cross-functional representatives from Seed Health (whose expertise includes R&D, commercialization insights, product development and operations) - 11-15th November 2024
  • The opportunity to engage with Seed Health to explore mutual interests in forming a collaboration and accessing further funding
  • Travel and accommodation costs provided
  • Promotion on nature.com

Post-residential training programme opportunity: 

  • Selected winners may be approached to discuss the formation of a commercial partnership, which could include further funding, as well as significant commitment by Seed Health to lead on and drive commercialization through the financing of key translational phases across discovery, development, clinical and go to market
  • Terms to be agreed between the applicants employer and Seed Health.

Shortlisted applicants are invited to take part in an online Translation and Commercialization Feedback Forum which aims to help you refine and develop your commercialization ideas.

Every eligible entrant will be invited to our Introduction to Translation and Commercialization Webinar.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through the online application form. 

Entries must be complete and submitted by 11:59 pm UTC 00:00 on the 24th June 2024 to be eligible. Terms and conditions are available here.

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Eligibility criteria

We welcome applications from researchers working in any discipline - including multi-disciplinary research group collaborations - where the successful translation of your research has the potential to improve human health and form the basis of a commercial opportunity.

In order to apply, the following criteria must be met: 

The Applicant 

  • Research group leader/principal investigator;
  • Employed by a university, non-profit, or government funded research institute;
  • Aspiration to commercialize research via licencing or creation of a spinout/spinoff company;
  • Based anywhere in the world (excluding sanction sensitive countries listed in the T&Cs).

The Research 

  • The research shows potential to be translated to develop a product or service and there is some early validation data.

The Intellectual Property 

  • No active collaborations with companies relating to this commercial idea; 
  • Your employer (or you) has the necessary intellectual property rights to commercialize in the field of human health; 
  • Your Technology Transfer Office, or equivalent, is aware of your application; 
  • A patent application may have been submitted and an academic paper published, but neither are necessary.

Evaluation criteria

Applications will be assessed by panel of scientific and commercial experts based on the following criteria:

The Science
The originality and quality of the underpinning science

The Opportunity
A commercially attractive and appropriate solution to address a  health need

The Intellectual Property
Potential to build an appropriate IP portfolio to enable commercialization

The Impact 
Successful market adoption has the potential to deliver meaningful human health benefits

The Team
Aspiration to explore the commercial potential of the research and capability to pursue translation

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