MDAP is a competitive incubator and accelerator program designed to identify and advance promising early-stage drug discovery from investigators at the University at Buffalo and the University of Rochester. Award amounts range between $250K to $7.5M in total program support over five years, reviewed annually. Successful projects exit as either a negotiated licensing transaction to a strategic partner or as a new startup company launched by Empire Discovery Institute.

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Program Structure
Following entry, the program is assigned a scientific project team (Project Team) comprised of the principal investigators (PIs), select Advisory Board members, and a project manager. This Project Team develops a tailored work plan, outlining milestone objectives, budget, and a performance timeline. A portion or the entire work plan may be executed by the PIs under a sponsored research arrangement between Empire Discovery Institute and the partner research institution. Further, Empire Discovery Institute coordinates and manages the funded research project through its network of contract research organizations, specialty service providers, pharmaceutical industry experts, and consultants. Work performed in the PI’s laboratory receives financial payments linked to specific work plan-driven milestones. Advancement to the next level of support is determined on an annual basis by Empire Discovery Institute's Advisory Board.