Panacea Innovation in partnership with the British Heart Foundation

Cardio Stars

Get your groundbreaking science out of the lab, to diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease!

Cardio Stars is a research translation and commercialisation programme run in partnership between the British Heart Foundation and Panacea Innovation. It is designed to help physicians and scientists take their discoveries and turn them into products that can be implemented in clinical practice and make a difference to patients.

Eligibility

 

  • All clinicians and scientists working to prevent, diagnose or treat cardiovascular disease
  • Any type of research, from behavioural science to pharmaceuticals to devices to software
  • Any stage of development, from an interest in translation to an idea with potential to a spin-out
  • Individuals and team from any professional background and all career stages are welcome

 

Benefits

 

  • In depth education in research translation and commercialisation
  • High quality entrepreneurial training
  • 1-on-1 mentoring from industry experts, professional advisors and experienced founders
  • Access to potential investors
  • No fees or other financial commitment

Cardio Stars Overview

Our two phases, Action and Develop, are tailored to researchers at different stages of their translation and commercialisation journey.

Action is an awareness raising initiative that aims to help participants explore the translational potential of their research. It is targeted at those with little or no experience of research translation, and whose work does not yet have obvious commercial potential.

Develop aims to take research output with translation potential from an “idea” to a “asset” with the potential to go to market. Participants will iteratively define their product, ascertain its role in the marketplace, develop a go-to-market strategy, and build a commercialisation plan, with the ultimate goal of securing funding to support their nascent business.

July 2024
Cardio Stars 2024/25 Cycle launches

BHF and Panacea announce the launch of the CardioStars 2025/25 programme. Expressions of interest open.

27th September 2024
Cardio Stars Action Autumn/Winter 2024 application deadline

Submit your expression of interest by this date to be considered for Action AW24/25.

18th Oct 2024
Cardio Stars Action Autumn/Winter 2024 Bootcamp

Taking place in person at The Royal Society of Medicine, London.

21st October 2024
Develop Autumn/Winter 2024 Application Deadline

For Action shortlisted team and new advanced Develop applicants.

4th November 2024
Develop Autumn/Winter 2024 onboarding webinar

Join us for an online event to kick-off Develop AW24/25.

13-15th November 2024
Develop AW24/25 bootcamp

A series of lectures, seminars, workshops and mentoring sessions, hosted in person in Oxford, UK.

12-13th December
Develop pitch practice

1-on-1 sessions with the Panacea team to hone your scientific and business pitch

19th December
Develop end-of-programme networking drinks

Informal social event in London to

20th December 2025
Develop Deliverables Submission Deadline

Key Information

Submit your CardioStars programme application below.

Get in touch for further information, or with questions:
cardiostars@panacea-innovation.com

FAQs

No - participation is open to everyone in the cardiovascular community, although researchers funded by the BHF will be given priority.

It doesn’t matter! One goal of the Cardio Stars programme is to raise awareness and help researchers incorporate translation their future research plans and funding applications.

It depends where you are in your research translation and commercialisation journey. If you want an entry-level introduction to the field and to learn key skills then apply to Action. If you have an idea or discovery that you want to start translating, or if you’ve already embarked on the commercialisation journey, irrespective of where you are, apply to Develop.

Participation in CardioStars is offered free of charge. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses.

Absolutely - most of our participants have not officially incorporated a company, and are still employed full time in academia or medicine. Establishing a spin-out is one of the topics we will cover during the CardioStars programme.

Absolutely - researchers of all levels are encouraged to take part in the programme. Translational projects are often not led by the most senior member of the team. Enthusiasm and commitment are much more important than seniority.

The Bootcamps are the centre piece of the CardioStars programmes and provide a crash course in entrepreneurship and building a business, and an unrivalled opportunity to network and build collaborations.
The Action Bootcamp is a one day, accessible, inspiring introduction to research translation and commercialisation. Participants will learn about protecting intellectual property, law and regulation and how to build a business around science.
The Develop Bootcamp takes place over three days. It offers participants a deep dive into intellectual property management, legal aspects of establishing and spinning out a startup, medical device and software regulation, building a team, partnering with industry, pitching and fundraising. In addition to seminars from expert speakers, participants benefit from 1-on-1 mentoring by experienced professionals and founders, access to high value service providers and pitch coaching.

Join us now!

Apply now to either the Action or Develop programme. If you need help deciding which programme is more appropriate for your needs please get in touch to discuss: cardiostars@panacea-innovation.com