Do you have a promising idea for a drug, vaccine, therapeutic, medical device, or digital health application to address challenges in substance use disorders (excluding alcohol)? Would you like to learn what it takes to bring your idea to market?
If yes, the Innovations for Substance Use Disorders (I4SUD) is the program for you! Don’t miss this opportunity to take your research to the next level by bridging the gap between academia and entrepreneurship and make a lasting impact on substance use disorders.
What is I4SUD?
I4SUD is an Executive Education certificate program offered to select applicants through Johns Hopkins Carey Business School (JHU CBS). The program will enroll researchers who are motivated to solve challenges related to substance use disorders (SUDs). During the program, participants will work individually or with their team to assess if their pharmaceutical, digital health, or medical device-related inventions can be transformed into innovations to address problems in SUDs. I4SUD combines asynchronous and synchronous online activities: a multi-day trip to JHU CBS in Baltimore, MD, for workshops led by world-class faculty, visits to operational SUD programs, networking/community building, including meeting NIDA program officers, and the development of a commercialization plan to make participants competitive for follow-on funding opportunities including but not limited to the NIDA-supported “$100,000 Start a SUD Startup” Challenge, and SBIR and STTR grant programs. Participants who complete the program also have the opportunity to win a cash prize through a pitch competition and will earn a certificate of completion from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Executive Education.
Who is eligible to participate?
Researchers at any stage in their careers (graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research assistants, faculty, etc.) who have ideas but have not yet received translational grants such as SBIR or STTR. Those who have previously attended the Yale Innovation to Impact Program, Babson SUD-Sprint program, or the MIT Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Biomedical Product Development for SUDs may apply but priority will be given to participants who have not participated in any of these programs.
Why choose the I4SUD program over other similar programs?
- Our team comprises multidisciplinary faculty and experts from business and entrepreneurship and substance use disorders.
- Our participants get the opportunity to do first-hand market research by visiting operational clinics and organizations that serve persons with substance use disorders to meet with staff and patients to understand the unmet needs they are solving and the people whose lives they’ll be impacting.
- All participants who complete the program receive a certificate of completion from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Office of Executive Education.
- The winner of our pitch competition receives a cash prize!
How much does it cost?
There are 30 spaces available for NIDA-sponsored scholarships. If you are selected for a scholarship, your program fee, travel, and accommodations will be provided at no cost to you. There are 20 spaces available for non-scholarship participants. If you are selected as a non-scholarship participant, you would have to pay a $1000 program fee and would also have to cover your own travel and accommodation expenses.
Where can I apply?
Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in April 2025.
When will I find out if I am accepted?
Participants will know of their acceptance by end of July, 2025.
What are the program expectations?
To earn the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Executive Education Certificate of Completion, participants must
- Attend four full days in person in Baltimore, MD (October 21 – October 24, 2025)
- Attend three virtual sessions, 1.5hrs each (12 PM – 1:30 PM ET, October 15, November 5, and November 19, 2025)
- Attend at least two 30min virtual office hour or clinic sessions with mentors or instructors (Wednesdays, 12 – 1:30 PM ET on October 29, November 12 & December 3, 2025)
- Engage in 3- 4 hours per week of asynchronous learning activities between October 13 and December 5, 2025, and spend time on research to develop their pitch (dependent on participant’s idea and stage)
- Attend and pitch in the virtual pitch competition from 1 PM – 4 PM ET on December 5, 2025
Do I have to pay to apply?
No, you do not have to pay to apply.
If I am selected for admission into the non-scholarship track, am I required to pay the $1000 fee?
No, you are only required to pay the $1000 fee if you accept the offer for admission into the non-scholarship track. If, instead, you choose to decline the offer for admission, you will not be required to pay any fee.
How does the program decide whether to admit a prospective applicant into the scholarship versus non-scholarship track?
The program team will review applications and give priority for scholarships to applicants who demonstrate an exceptional combination of qualities relevant to program success, including product/business ideas, plans for product/business development, experience and expertise, program alignement, and commitment to the program. Applicants who demonstrate strong potential but fall outside the priority zone for scholarships may be offered a place on the non-scholarship track.
Can anyone be admitted into the non-scholarship track if they are willing to pay the associated fees?
No, there is a competitive selection process to determine admission into the both the scholarship and non-scholarship track.
Where can I find more information?
You can follow us on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i4sud/
X: https://twitter.com/innovations4sud
You can email us at i4sud@jh.edu