Washington University and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals are pleased to announce a second call for Challenge Grant proposals. Challenge Grants are intended for projects where a compelling therapeutic target has been identified, but additional validation is required. This program focuses on platforms such as Oligonucleotides, small molecules, peptides, drug/device combinations and other innovative scientific technology platforms. Specific areas of interest currently include:
- Critical care in all Intensive Care settings including Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, Acute Kidney Injury, Hypotension, Neuroprotection
- Pediatric/Neonatal ICU to include Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, Sepsis, Hyperbilirubinaemia, Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn
The following disease areas are out of scope:
- Primary care diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and depression.
- Alzheimer’s
- Oncology
Challenge Grant Awards
Challenge Grants are intended to provide support to projects likely to progress new therapeutic options that are aligned with Mallinckrodt’s research priorities. The goal of the challenge grants is to move well-defined projects forward on the path towards drug development.
Total resources requested should be adequate to accomplish the project goals and costs should not exceed $200,000 (direct costs) total to be expended over one to two years. A progress report will be due at the midpoint of the project.
Challenge grant awardees will have access to Mallinckrodt’s extensive pharmaceutical drug development expertise. Applicants who are invited to submit a Full Proposal will work collaboratively with Mallinckrodt’s scientific/technical experts in scoping and developing the research proposal, working on the research and supporting management of the project. Applicants are asked to consider areas of their proposed research where input from Mallinckrodt drug development experts would provide benefit and select the experts they would like to collaborate with on their research (see the list below). At least one expert should
be selected, and applicants can select as many experts as needed.
Mallinckrodt Scientific/Technical Expertise
- Program Leadership
- Portfolio Management
- Administrative Support
- Project Management
- Alliance Management
- Finance
- Commercial Insights
- Competitive Intelligence
- Intellectual Property
- Regulatory
- Clinical
- Therapeutic Area Strategy
- Science and Technology Support
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Immunology
- Research Toxicology
- Chemistry/Synthetic Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Cell/Molecular Biology
Challenge Grant Requirements
- Preclinical focus with strong scientific rationale
- Potential for novel, differentiated therapeutics
- Established link between target biology and disease mechanism
About Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt is a global business that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. Headquartered in Staines-Upon-Thames, UK with research facilities in St. Louis MO, Madison WS and Dublin Ireland and offices in Bedminster, NJ, Mallinckrodt is a research based company dedicated to serving patients with a wide range of serious and complex conditions. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.
Submission Process
Washington University faculty working on projects that meet our criteria are encouraged to apply. The first step is a three to five page, non-confidential pre-proposal using the attached template. Pre-proposals should describe the therapeutic approach and explain how funding will accelerate the research process towards bringing candidate therapeutics to the clinic.
Pre-proposals should be submitted to Jodi Maslin, jmaslin@wustl.edu, by June 25, 2021.
| Step | Contents | Relevant Dates |
|---|---|---|
| RFP Publication | Official Announcement & Town Hall Webinar | April 2021 |
| Pre-Proposal Due | 3-5 Page non-confidential summary | June 25, 2021 |
| Invitations for Full Proposal Presentations | July 2021 (mid) | |
| Program presentations for finalists | 30 minute presentations with 10 minutes for questions and discussions | July 2021 (late) |
| Award Decisions Announced | August 2021 | |
| Programs Launched | September 2021 |