A colleague just alerted me to a new initiative from Bayer Healthcare. From Targets to Novel Drugs offers up to €250,000 in exchange for a brief abstract.
The stated objective:
With this initiative, Bayer Schering Pharma aims to encourage research on novel targets in areas of mutual interest. By combining expertise from industry and academia we intend to accelerate the transition from basic research to new promising treatment options.
The stated benefits to the researchers:
Bayer Schering Pharma wishes to dedicate grants to further develop promising targets. In addition, we will bring in our expertise and technologies to help develop your ideas. […] In addition to the financial support, successful applicants may benefit from the pooling of expertise. This may include specific know-how in drug discovery and development. Bayer Schering Pharma has long-standing experience in drug discovery and development as well as a proven track record of collaborations with academic institutes, start-ups, and biotech companies.
The competition is open to academic and industry researchers from anywhere in the world.
We’ve already had a brief debate about “innovative and courageous funding mechanism” versus “fishing for new targets”.
The FAQ brought up a potential red flag:
No, the information provided will not be considered confidential. Information provided has to be sufficient to allow a first evaluation of the proposal. If you have further data that you are only willing to disclose subject to the execution of a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA), please indicate this in the abstract. In case your application is considered for further evaluation, we may contact you to discuss a CDA.
So, wise and mighty internets: any thoughts?
The more the merrier, in my book.
I guess no more confidential than your average funding application?
I suppose it comes down to trust. Peer reviewers vs. industry? Hmmm…
After recent experience, I’d be inclined to take industry. At least you know where you stand there ;)
Surely they can’t be that bereft of ideas?
Seems more like they’re trying to focus their efforts specifically on targets with the best supporting evidence. Even big pharma don’t have infinite resources, and that pipeline’s pretty leaky ;)
very tempting…
This article in the Times Higher might be an incentive to give it a try.
There must be a catch. It sounds like an apartment listing that is unbelievable, but when you go to look at it there 25 cats.
Frank, thanks for that! Food for thought.
Caryn, LOL!