Epilepsy Therapy Project Announces "Shark Tank" Competition to Identify the Most Innovative, New Products for People with Epilepsy

Winning Products and Technologies to Be Unveiled at Third Biennial Epilepsy PipelineConference in San Francisco on February 2, 2012

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Epilepsy Therapy Project (ETP), a non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate new therapies for people living with epilepsy and seizures and the parent organization of epilepsy.com, today announced a "Shark Tank" competition and is now inviting entries that represent the most innovative ideas in epilepsy treatment and care. The winner of the 2012 Shark Tank competition will receive national recognition and a cash award supporting the development and commercialization of an important new product, technology or therapeutic concept. Epilepsy and seizure conditions affect more than 60 million individuals from infants and adults to accident victims and war veterans suffering from head injuries.

The top finalists will present their product concepts or therapeutic candidates at the Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference in San Francisco on February 2, 2012.  The winning entry will be selected by a panel of judges representing physicians and scientists, corporate executives, industry investors, people with epilepsy and their family members. The project deemed to be the most innovative will be announced at the conclusion of the conference, and the winner will receive a $50,000 grant to accelerate the idea towards improving the quality of life of people with epilepsy. Finalists may be eligible for a travel stipend to attend the conference and will receive free conference registration. For more information and instructions on submitting a letter of intent, please visit http://www.epilepsy.com/sharktankguidelines or contact [email protected].  

How to Submit Your Idea

Applicants must provide a letter of intent outlining their project goals and the near-term potential benefit to people with epilepsy, as well as the deliverables expected as a result of the grant.  Applicants must demonstrate an ability to move the proposed plan to completion, showing how the prize can accelerate any step along the path to market.

Some examples of novel and exciting concepts could fall into the following innovative categories:

• A system to detect seizures with the capacity to provide early warning to the patient or family;
• A treatment that stops a seizure from progressing;
• A system that helps patients manage their daily treatment (for example an e-diary or pill reminder technology);
• A device that prevents physical injury that patients may experience when in seizure; or
• An entirely new product concept with the promise to dramatically improve the lives of people with epilepsy.  

Letters of intent are due by November 30, 2011. The finalists selected to present their projects at the conference will be notified by December 30, 2011.

"The Epilepsy Therapy Project is a powerful and committed supporter of groundbreaking epilepsy research with near-term applications, particularly in the advancement of new therapeutics and devices," said Warren Lammert, ETP Founder and Chairman. "This year, we are inaugurating the "Shark Tank" competition to spur scientists, clinicians, industrial design leaders and the epilepsy community to submit ideas with the promise to improve quality of life for people living with epilepsy every day. We are excited to sponsor this competition and look forward to receiving inventive new ideas with the potential to improve and even transform patient care."

The Third Biennial Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference 2012 will be held on February 2-4, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. This conference has earned recognition as the leading showcase for the most promising epilepsy therapies in development from entrepreneurs, startups and established companies dedicated to pioneering and advancing drugs, biologics, technologies and devices for epilepsy The 2012 conference has been expanded to three days to accommodate the unveiling of  the "Shark Tank" competition finalists' concepts and product candidates, and to include a day for people with epilepsy, family members and healthcare advocates focused on the importance and challenges of developing new therapies for epilepsy and seizure conditions.  

For additional information or to register for the Third Biennial Epilepsy Therapy Pipeline conference, please visit http://www.epilepsy.com/etp/pipeline2012.  

Early bird registration fees are available until November 30, 2011.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available.  Please contact [email protected] or 540.687.8077, ext.100.

About the Epilepsy Therapy Project

The Epilepsy Therapy Project is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate ideas into therapies for people living with epilepsy and seizures.  Founded in 2002 by a group of parents, distinguished physicians, and researchers, the Epilepsy Therapy Project supports the commercialization of new therapies through direct grants and investments in promising academic and commercial projects.  For more information about epilepsy, epilepsy treatment and the epilepsy pipeline, please visit our website, www.epilepsy.com or call 540.687.8077.  

SOURCE Epilepsy Therapy Project