The Center for Health Care Innovation enhances the lives of people we serve through disruptive innovations and initiatives that transform healthcare delivery. Given established excellence in providing clinical care and leading research, Yale New Haven Health and Yale University are a unified lighthouse for creating, identifying, fostering and scaling health innovations. We challenge people from all areas, industries and backgrounds to identify problems in health care.

We welcome innovations that focus on novel approaches in digital health, diagnostics, medical devices, care delivery, finance and management.

If you are working on an approach in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology, we encourage you to contact our University partners at the Program for Innovative Therapeutics for CT’s Health and/or the Office of Cooperative Research.

The Center for Health Care Innovation is interested in engaging with external groups, as well as with those employed across Yale New Haven Health, Yale University and all affiliates, who have innovations that would impact clinical outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.

The Center may provide research support, staffing, mentorship and funding depending on the scope and potential of the opportunity.

The Center for Health Care innovation team works with leadership, relevant clinical and administrative representatives, and key stakeholders to screen innovation submissions and complete necessary due diligence. There are 5 main steps to the process, each with its own associated “go-no go” decision:

1. Screen and Assess
2. Phase I: Initial Diligence (Technology Review; Competitive and Market Analysis)
3. Phase II: In-Depth Diligence (IP and Legal Review; Value and Impact Assessment; Team and Milestones)
4. Negotiation of Terms/Partnership
5. Final Approval

Key criteria for reviewing submissions include:

• Product: Do you have a product/solution that is beyond the proof of concept/beta stage?
• Team: Is there a solid team in place with the ability to execute on milestones?
• Novelty: Is this a unique approach that addresses Yale New Haven Health pain point(s) and is differentiated?
• IP Protection: Do you currently hold intellectual property (IP) related to the innovation or is there a way to protect the innovation/asset?
• Competition: Is there limited competition? Does your approach offer a superior advantage over the existing competition and/or standard of care?
• Validation: Do you have any outside interest or traction with potential partners/customers?
• Market Size: What is the addressable market size? Can your approach have the potential to significantly impact more than one stakeholder (i.e., patient, hospital, payer)?

The Innovation Executive Committee, which is the governing body for the Center, acts as the decision making body. This Committee is comprised of YNHHS and Yale University executives. The Innovation Executive Committee has final approval authority according to established diligence criteria, at major decision points.

Access the internal innovation submission form. Materials for submission should include a thoughtful explanation of your innovation, what makes your solution novel and areas of projected impact.

Please submit an executive summary of your innovative product/solution and a non-confidential slide deck with details about your opportunity and team. This information can be sent to innovation@ynhh.org.

Contact us at innovation@ynhh.org with specific questions.