Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation requests proposals for the advancement of RNA therapeutics

Pfizer is seeking proposals for the advancement of RNA therapeutics and the development of the next generation of RNA medicines.

Deadline to submit to [email protected]: April 6, 2022

Submissions invited for novel target concepts and therapeutic strategies amenable to RNA based approaches (mRNA, circular RNA, gene editing), in the following areas of interest:

• Cellular reprogramming:
  • Cellular reprogramming in cancer (CRC, Lung, Breast, Prostate, Renal), metabolic, autoimmune disease or fibrosis (e.g. transcription factors).  Prioritized lineages include:
    • Myeloid cells (DC, macrophages, monocytes)
    • T cells (induction of Tregs); CAR-Tregs or Treg reprogramming; T cell exhaustion; tolerance 
    • Adipocytes, muscle cells, endothelial cells 
  • Tunable cytokine/interleukin expression for immune cell modulation in cancer 
  • Reprogramming of Myofibroblasts in liver and lung fibrosis
• Cancer vaccines
• Infectious Disease Vaccines
  • Protective cell mediated response to bacterial or viral infections
  • Emerging virus threats
  • Bacterial pathogens (e.g. Chlamydia trachomatis, Staphylococcus aureus)
• Chronic or Rare Kidney Disease (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, IgA Nephropathy, Alport Syndrome, or Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease)
• Rare Liver Diseases and Rare Neuromuscular Diseases
• Repeat Expansion Diseases (e.g. Huntington’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, ALS, myotonic dystrophy)
• Preference given to targets not amenable to small or large molecule intervention

Technologies and Enabling Infrastructure:

• Gene correction/replacement
• Epigenetic editing
• Delivery technology, including tissue targeting for liver, lung, kidney, immune cell subsets, central nervous system, muscle
• Non-viral delivery for RNA and gene editing
• RNA engineering technologies (e.g. UTRs, IRES, circular RNA, chemical modifications, stability)
• Regulatable gene expression
• Next-gen gene editing

Out of Scope:

• RNA vaccine strategies for Flu, COVID-19, RSV
• Non-coding RNA targets and modalities

Submission process:

• Develop a 2-3 page non-confidential document outlining the scientific background and research synopsis
• Faculty interested in submitting a project should contact [email protected]. Pre-proposals should be reviewed by one of Pfizer’s Emerging Science Leads to determine suitability prior to submission. Formal submission should be routed through Columbia Technology Ventures.
• The deadline to submit pre-proposals to Columbia Technology Ventures is April 6, 2022.
• Please see the Related Documents section of this page for additional information.