The CTSI is looking for clinically relevant project ideas for consideration in a virtual “shark tank” competition, competing for a $5,000 investment and other research resources for the project. Selected applicants will be asked to give timed pitches limited to 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of active conversation with the “sharks” (researchers and administrators from the CTSI). More information can be found in the RFA.
Project Criteria:
- Address an existing issue or problem currently affecting our patient population.
- Propose a new practice, treatment, tool, approach, etc. that has the potential to improve patient care.
- Consider ways to disseminate changes or new best practice to the affected patient population.
Questions should be directed to Katelyn Still at Katelyn.Still@AdvocateHealth.org.
Deadlines:
- Applications Due: Friday, October 31, 2025 at 11:59PM ET
- Selection of Presenters: November 10, 2025
- Virtual Research “Shark Tank”: Friday, November 21, 2025 at 2-3:30PM ET
Examples of Successful Shark Tank Projects Include:
Constipation Blues: A Novel Non-Invasive Gut Transit Test
Jessica Sang, Gastroenterology Fellowship Program
This project aimed to develop a non-invasive test to measure gastrointestinal (GI) tract transit time that can be conducted at home. The project targeted pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorders and will be an initial step in the later development of therapies for patients with gut transit time abnormalities.
High Fidelity Simulation and Cultural Competency in Residency Programs
Marie Wofford, Emergency Medicine Resident
This two-phase project attempted to improve social competency of emergency medicine residents participating in high fidelity clinical simulations. The first phase evaluated the proportion of emergency medicine residency programs in the United States that use high fidelity simulations to teach social competency.
The second phase evaluated if the skin color and gender of the mannequins used for clinical simulation training by residency programs reflected the skin color and gender breakdown for the US population. The goal was to use the data to mitigate the potential development of implicit biases by resident physicians.