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Ono Pharma Foundation – Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program in the United States and Canada in 2024

Sponsor/Agency: Ono Pharma Foundation

Program: Research Grant

Target Researchers: Young and/or mid-career scientist (15 years or below of experience from starting independent academic position; parental leaves are considered)

 Target Field: Chemical Biology Research

Description:

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading global healthcare company committed to delivering new, innovative pharmaceutical products to patients and championing the fight against disease and pain. Ono Pharmaceutical carries out these goals in cooperation with researchers, patients, their families, and healthcare providers. The Ono Pharma Foundation was established to support academic research in relevant scientific fields, which have the potential of making significant impact on therapeutic approaches to disease. The Foundation’s competitive awards program, the Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program (“Ono Initiative”), is the embodiment of the Foundation’s commitment to focus on and accelerate researcher-driven open innovation by supporting high-risk and high-reward science research projects which have potential to lead to science discoveries/solutions and, possibly, based on further research, to breakthrough treatments for patients.

 This initiative targets Chemical Biology Research. For 2024, subjects of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Modulating interactome and cell/tissue crosstalk with chemical induced proximity
  • Manipulating biomolecular condensates and protein quality control systems
  • Deep understanding and emerging applications of chemical glycobiology
  • New concepts of drug delivery and localization to tissue/cell/organelle

Objectives:

  • Identify and develop innovative research proposals and results that could lead to the development of breakthrough treatment solutions for patients.
  • Support academic research and the career development of promising young and mid-career scientists
  • Build strong relationships within the community in order to lead to transformative research aligned with the Ono Initiative's goals

Deadline:

Internal Deadline for Expressions of Interest (EoI): February 1, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET

LOI submission due date: February 15, 2024, 5 p.m. ET  

Request for Proposal (“RFP”) sent out:  April, 2024 

Proposal due date: May 9, 2024 

Announcement of the Award: June 27, 2024 

Eligibility:

  • PIs applying must be working at one of the nominating institutions. Nominating institutions might be replaced or added to in subsequent years.
  • The PI must have an MD and/or a PhD degree.
  • The PI must be a new applicant to the Ono Initiative, or, if they are a returning applicant, must be applying for a project different from the one they previously proposed.
  • The PI must be a young and/or mid-career scientist (15 years or below of experience from starting independent academic position). Only parental leave will be considered when calculating eligibility as “mid-career” scientist.
  • The PI may not already be engaged in other sponsored research with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and/or grant program with Ono Pharma Foundation. • The PI may not apply for funding to amplify current work. However, PIs may research a new idea based on a prior finding of the PI.
  • The PI must not be a healthcare professional (defined as individuals currently holding an active state license for which they are (a) qualified to prescribe, administer, use or supply any medicinal or medical products or (b) perform any professional clinical services). A PI with an MD but without an active state medical license is still eligible.
  • PIs serving on a healthcare formulary or similar committee are not eligible.

Budget:

Applications comprising laboratory investigation will be considered. Project duration may last up to three years with annual funding of $300,000/year, totaling a maximum of $900,000 for the normal term of a research project. The Ono Pharma Foundation will provide up to a maximum of an additional 15% ($45,000) per year of the funding to be used for indirect costs of the PI’s institution. The total amount of the three-year grant would be up to $1,035,000.

Duration:

3 years.

Apply:

Given that each institution may nominate maximum two faculty members for the LOI stage, there is an internal selection process to identify the nominees for this award. Faculty members eligible for this award are required to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI; see details below) by February 1, 2024, which will be reviewed by an internal Selection Committee comprised of the Deans of the applicants’ faculties. ORS will work with the selected nominees to prepare and submit their LOIs by the funder deadline (February 15, 2024).

Questions:

If you have any questions, please contact Raluca Dubrowski