Aims of call:
The funding is intended as seed financing to reach phase I/IIa clinical trials for Advanced Therapies and boost the translational chain, serving as basis to apply for substantial third-party funds. Projects should have a clear clinical or technical translational pathway and be innovative in nature. Projects must also be interdisciplinary, including a minimum of 2 BIH PIs from different fields or disciplines and a Charité clinical partner (unless covered by a BIH PI).
Examples of what may be funded include, but are not limited to:
- Studies to compare methods (e.g. manufacturing methods, different devices) in order to find the most suitable method for the project
- Development/implementation of potency assays
- Development/implementation of assays related to characterization of the product
- Development/implementation of assays related to stability/impurity
- Consultation with regulatory experts to assess all the above (especially points 2,3,4)
Proof of concept or repeat studies will not be considered for funding in this call.
Expected outcomes:
- Expected that the work provides the basis for application for substantial third party funding (DFG, BMBF, EU) for phase I/IIA clinical trials or first-in-man studies.
- Project makes a clear advance in the translational pipeline as evidenced by progression to clinical trial phase I/IIa or first-in-man study readiness.
Eligibility:
- Applications from minimum of 2 BIH PIs from different fields or disciplines in cooperation with a Charité clinical partner (unless covered by a BIH PI) will be eligible for funding.
- Only one lead application per PI.
Funding details:
- Funding up to €150,000/year can be provided.
- Max. 2 years funding (If 2 years funding is applied for, progress evaluation will take place after year 1 of funding)
- Funding can be used to cover all costs (as long as duly justified) except travel.
How to apply:
- Applications must be written in English and received by 23:59 h on 29th August 2021. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered.
- Applications must follow the template provided.
- Completed applications should be sent to: contact@b-crt.de
Evaluation criteria and review process:
Applications will be evaluated by the extended BCRT steering committee in cooperation with Charité-BIH Innovation based on the criteria outlined in the application template. These criteria are in accordance with the development of ToMAP (Translation Oriented Means-Model of Assessing Projects).
In brief applications will be evaluated on:
- novelty and state-of-the-art
- IP protection and exploitation strategy
- translational character of the project and commercial outlook
- cross disciplinarity
- feasibility of project success (contingency plans should be in place)
- suitability for future 3rd party funding (3rd party funding should already be considered when planning the initial proposal)
All applicants will be invited to present their proposals as a pitch to the BCRT steering committee starting from calendar week 37: week beginning 13th September 2021.
Results will be announced during calendar week 38: Week beginning 20th September 2021, with the expectation that funding commences in January 2022.