A UNIVERSITY LAB PARTNERS AWARD
Founders' Bench
A new program that gives life science companies a funded wet-lab bench, expert mentoring and a clear path to their next critical milestone. The inaugural cycle, developed in partnership with Bausch + Lomb and with the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at UC Irvine as academic partner, is dedicated to ophthalmology.
Ophthalmology Focus • Six-Month Award • UCI-Adjacent • Zero IP or Equity Taken
Submit your application by November 30, 2026
Funded Bench & Equipment
Expert Guidance & Grant Readiness
Investor Showcase Access
UCI Connections
BUILT FOR FOUNDERS MAKING AN IMPACT
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In Partnership With
THE EXPERIENCE
6 Months on the Bench
Awardees receive a funded bench for six months at ULP’s professionally managed wet-lab facility in UCI Research Park, access to shared scientific equipment and customized coaching and mentoring from industry professionals — including Bausch + Lomb scientists and business leaders — and subject-matter experts in regulatory strategy, intellectual property, clinical development and finance. The program also provides fundraising-readiness support for both dilutive and non-dilutive capital, including NIH SBIR/STTR grants, and connections to UCI faculty, core facilities and talent through ULP’s UCI Resource Navigator.
Month 6
Investor Introductions
Showcase your progress to investors and the ULP community.
Month 3
Key Data
Generate the data that moves your program toward its next valuation inflection point.
Month 1
Experiment
Onboard to your bench and shared equipment; begin your funded research plan.
Submit your application by November 30, 2026
AWARD BENEFITS
What the Founders' Bench Awardee Receives
A runway, resources, and relationships — built around one funded bench.
Shared Scientific Equipment
Access to shared scientific equipment for your research.
Fundraising Readiness
Support for dilutive and non-dilutive capital, including NIH SBIR/STTR grants.
Mentorship & Expert Access
Direct access to industry scientists, clinicians, experienced founders, and regulatory and IP advisors.
UCI Resource Navigator
Concierge-style ULP support to connect with the right UCI faculty, core facilities, and student talent.
Funded Bench & Equipment
A funded lab bench with full shared-equipment access at ULP, the premier shared wet-lab and co-working space in Orange County, CA.
IS THIS FOR YOUR COMPANY?
The Applicant Checklist
Stage
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Pre-seed and seed-stage companies
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Founders
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Academic spinouts
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Corporate spinouts
Location
A Southern California nexus. Work takes place at ULP, UCI Research Park, Irvine, CA.
Focus Area
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Ocular drug delivery & therapeutics
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Cell and gene therapies
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Diagnostics and imaging
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Surgical and digital technologies
Team
Teams with a genuine need for hands-on bench time, not purely computational work.
THE PROCESS
How the Selection Process Works
From application to bench, in four steps.
Decision
The bench is awarded and the winning team is onboarded.
Pitch Competition
Finalists pitch live on February 2, 2027 for the Founders' Bench Award.
Diligence & Interview
Scientific and business review with our selection committee.
WHY OPHTHALMOLOGY
Orange County's Leading Eye-Health Ecosystem
Orange County is home to one of the world's most active ophthalmology communities, with deep industry scientific leadership, a strong ophthalmology tech network, and a rich base of investors and clinician-scientists, all just minutes from ULP. The Founders' Bench builds on that momentum by giving an early-stage ophthalmology company a funded wet-lab bench, shared equipment, and hands-on support, right in the middle of that ecosystem. The inaugural cycle is dedicated to ophthalmology, one of Orange County's many established life science strengths.
APPLY TODAY
Application is Open
Submit your application by November 30, 2026
Have Questions?
Contact us or join our informational webinar Thursday, November 12. The webinar will cover how the award works, what’s included, and how to apply, followed by a live Q&A with our team.
Founders' Bench
informational webinar Thursday, November 12.