Center for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI)

 

UCSF and Pfizer’s Center for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) announce a

CTI Request for Proposals

2 page pre-proposals due October 22nd, 2012

 

CTI enables translational medicine by working in a highly collaborative team with UCSF investigators to develop biologic therapeutics. Research initiates with a UCSF validated target and the team will jointly develop a therapeutic and take through Phase I proof of concept studies.

 

*    Focus on protein therapeutics (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, antibody variants, recombinant proteins, Fc-fusion, pegylated proteins, antibody and protein conjugates, bi-specific antibodies and peptides)

*    Co-location of scientists, technology and drug development expertise

*    Collaborative use of Pfizer’s proprietary drug discovery tools and technologies

*    Support for IND- & clinical-enabling functions (toxicology, regulatory, etc.)

*    Success-based funding/financial incentives (milestone & royalty payments)

 

For the 2012 RFP, CTI is focused on targets in three main disease areas:

*  Autoimmunity (especially Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / Lupus Nephritis)       

*    Mechanisms that prevent the underlying dysregulation of B- and T- cells

*    Target or interrupt inducers of persistent immune activation/inflammation

*    Inhibition or modulation of inflammatory processes involved in flares (renal, synovial or cutaneous); regulate handling and clearance of apoptotic bodies, or other pro-inflammatory cellular debris

*    Modulate target organ susceptibility to immune-mediated damage or promote immune homeostasis and immunoregulation (i.e., functional tolerance).

*  Renal Disease (Kidney Injury/Lupus Glomerulonephritis, IgA Nephropathy)

*    Mechanisms that block intrarenal inflammation, regulate leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, prevent tubular atrophy and interstitial injury, or inhibit specific components of the immune response related to renal damage

*    Approaches that are aimed at promoting responses leading to improved renal function

*  Cardiovascular (Congestive Heart Failure, Post-Myocardial Infarction and Acute Coronary Syndrome)

*    Mechanisms may include those that impact extracellular matrix turnover, fibrosis, restore cardiac tissue & function, apoptosis & proliferation, cardioprotection and neovascularization.

*    Novel mechanisms that impact endothelial repair (beyond standard of care) to reduce CV events post–ACS such as plaque stabilization and dissolution, mast cell & macrophage regulation

 

A two-page, non-confidential pre-proposal in the required format must be submitted to Stephanie Robertson stephanie.robertson@ucsf.edu on or before October 22, 2012.  A CTI Steering Committee comprised of Pfizer CTI scientists and UCSF Investigators will review and select the most promising proposals for further development. UCSF scientists whose pre-proposals are selected for further consideration will be invited to submit a full proposal that may be written in collaboration with Pfizer scientists, and will be evaluated for funding by the CTI Steering Committee.