Funding Opportunities

Pfizer is seeking proposals for renal disease target discovery utilising functional genomics technologies.

Submissions invited for novel functional genomics-driven target discovery efforts in renal disease, making use of highly relevant model systems and informative, high-dimensional readouts:

Experimental models

• Organoids
• Ex vivo tissue
• Microphysiological systems
• Primary cells
• Complex cell mixtures
• Other innovative and highly relevant model systems

Readouts

• High-dimensional readouts that capture disease biology
• Single-cell approaches
• Transcriptomics and proteomics
• High-content imaging assays

Technologies

• Gene editing and other functional genomics methods
• Functional genomics screening approaches at medium to large-scale

Disease/Biology focus

• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Glomerular/tubular biology
• Polycystic kidney disease

Out of scope

• Rare kidney disease
• Alport syndrome
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• IgA nephropathy

Submission deadline: 21 April 2023

For more information, please contact Nicole Le Grand, Business Partnerships Manager, Business Partnerships Office at nicole.legrand@medsci.ox.ac.uk.

Seeking Novel Leads in Rare Diseases and Neuroscience

Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company, is seeking novel and innovative leads to treat rare disease and rare neuroscience disease indications. A range of therapeutic areas and targets will be considered, but target diseases should be rare (>1.5 per million, <1 per 2,000).

A range of mechanisms‑of‑action and classes of molecules are of interest, with a particular focus on small molecules, peptides, biologics, nucleic acids, RNA therapies (i.e. siRNAs) and antibody conjugates. Ipsen is open to a variety of drug delivery methods.

Development Stage of Interest

Approaches of interest are preferred to be clinical‑stage assets at pre‑IND, clinical phase I or clinical phase II. Research should be validated empirically, e.g. through in vitro animal proof of concept studies.

Target Clinical Indications

The main areas of focus can be related to: endocrinology, hepatic disease, inborn errors of metabolism, neuromuscular disease and musculoskeletal disease.

Out of Scope

Ultra‑rare diseases (<1.5 per million)

Assets that treat rare dermatology, pulmonary, haematology, ophthalmology and infectious indications only Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, general pain and psychiatry

Gene therapy, cell therapy, stem cell/regenerative therapies, vaccines, biosimilars/generic, traditional or herbal medicine, natural products, and medical devices

Research‑stage assets (unless clinic‑ready or with empirical validation)

Submission Information

Submission of one-page, 200-300 word briefs are encouraged, along with any optional supplementary information e.g. relevant publications. Intellectual property status of the research should be included where relevant. Applicants are encouraged to fill in an application form to provide more in-depth information alongside their submission to this campaign. In submitting to this campaign, you confirm that your submission contains only non-confidential information.

Ipsen are seeking a variety of collaboration opportunities including asset acquisition and partnering, to be decided on a case- by-case basis.

Deadline: Monday 24 April 2023 – 10.59 pm GMT

For an application form, a full list of diseases of interest, and assistance on submissions, please contact Denitsa Filipova in the Business Partnerships Office (denitsa.filipova@medsci.ox.ac.uk).

The Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR) is seeking to advance science through their Global Scholars Program. The funding of up to $1 million over a 3-year period and is open to Principal Investigators. The University of Oxford has been selected by Novartis as a partner for their scholars program.

Read more about the NIBR Global Scholars Program and apply (Oxford single-sign on required)