The Virginia Catalyst announced that it is accepting letters of intent (LOI) for Grant Round 20 to fund the development and commercialization of life science projects that address major unmet needs for improving human health and advance Virginia’s economy.
“The Virginia Catalyst is excited to open Grant Round 20 to continue our support of Virginia’s life sciences,” said Mike Grisham, CEO of Virginia Catalyst. “Collaboration between our research universities and industry drive innovations that contribute to economic development in the Commonwealth. We encourage those of you with innovative ideas in life sciences to reach out to colleagues and other professionals to create a high-performing team.”
Letters of Intent (LOI) must be received no later than September 25, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Projects that meet funding criteria will be invited to submit a full application, due no later than October 16, 2026.
Applications will be reviewed and scored by an independent review team of scientists, venture capitalists, and CEOs of Virginia-based life science companies. The top eight applicant teams will be invited to present their proposal in person on November 12, 2026, and awards will be announced at the end of November.
The LOI submission form, along with funding criteria and frequently asked questions, are available on the Virginia Catalyst website: www.virginiacatalyst.org/apply.html.
We encourage all interested applicant teams to view our webinar that was co-hosted by Virginia Catalyst and Virginia Bio. This webinar featured an expert panel, facilitated by Mike Grisham, CEO of Virginia Catalyst, to share what it takes to score highly, get funding, and position your company and research university for significant follow-on funding from large corporations, venture capitalists, DARPA, NIH, and philanthropic foundations.
The webinar can be viewed and the slides downloaded from the Virginia Catalyst home page at www.virginiacatalyst.org.
Cumulatively through the first 19 funding rounds, Virginia Catalyst has dedicated a total of over $40 million for 75 collaborative projects. Together, these projects have created over 450 new jobs and more than $700 million in follow-on funding.
About Virginia Catalyst
Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corporation (VBHRC), known as the Virginia Catalyst, advances life sciences research throughout Virginia by promoting collaboration between life science businesses and universities. The Catalyst provides non-dilutive funding to early-stage life science projects that address large unmet medical needs and create high-paying jobs throughout the Commonwealth.
Life science businesses benefit from leading researchers at Virginia’s universities, a qualified talent pool, high quality of life, low turnover of employees, and business-friendly state and local governments.
The Catalyst is funded by the Virginia General Assembly’s General Fund, and University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and George Mason University.
For more information, visit www.virginiacatalyst.org.