Funder: Cures Within Reach
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Letter of Intent deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per trial (includes 10% institutional match); additional $5,000–$10,000 available for community engagement costs.
Summary: Supports proof-of-concept clinical trials using AI-driven approaches to validate repurposed therapies for unsolved diseases, with a focus on rare conditions and innovative, explainable AI.
Key Information: Two-stage process (LOI then full proposal); only nonprofit, academic, or health system researchers eligible.
Description
This opportunity from Cures Within Reach funds investigator-initiated, proof-of-concept Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials that aim to validate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug repurposing opportunities for unsolved diseases worldwide. Proposals must utilize AI-generated data as preclinical support, with the AI workflow providing clear and explainable evidence for the repurposing hypothesis. The grant welcomes trials involving approved drugs, biologics, eligible cellular/gene therapies, or combination therapies in new indications, with a preference for rare diseases and off-patent therapies. Any type of AI model is eligible, provided it meaningfully contributes to identifying or validating repurposed therapies. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, robust clinical trial design, and innovative use of AI to accelerate the development of new treatment options for conditions lacking effective solutions.
Due Dates
- June 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected)
All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.
Funding Amount
- Maximum budget per trial: up to $100,000 (includes a required 10% institutional match; Cures Within Reach provides 90% of the total, institution provides 10%).
- Additional $5,000–$10,000 available for approved community engagement activities (not included in the $100,000 cap).
- Funding can be sole, late, or final support needed to accomplish the trial's aims.
- Project duration: up to 36 months.
- Up to 30% of the funding may be used for indirect costs.
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants:
- Principal Investigators (PIs) at accredited nonprofit, academic research institutions, or health systems involved in medical research, located anywhere in the world.
- Ineligible:
- Start-ups, biotechs, and pharmaceutical companies (but their collaborators at eligible institutions may apply).
- Trial requirements:
- Must be interventional, proof-of-concept, Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials testing repurposed, approved therapies in a new indication for an unsolved disease.
- Must include AI-generated data as part of preclinical support, with an explainable AI workflow.
- Repurposed therapies must be approved and/or generally recognized as safe by a regulatory agency (e.g., FDA, EMA, Health Canada, PMDA Japan).
- Preference for rare disease indications and off-patent therapies.
- PIs without prior extramural funding or their own lab must include a letter of support from a funded senior researcher.
- Other requirements:
- Project timeline no longer than 36 months.
- No substantial use of generative AI/NLP to write the application itself.
Application Process
- Two-stage process:
- Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit via ProposalCentral under "Non-Disease Specific Repurposing Research."
- LOI must include: summary of the AI model, simple AI workflow diagram (using the CWR AI Supporting Evidence Form), and basic project information.
- No institutional signature required at LOI stage.
- Full Proposal: Top-rated LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal, with decisions communicated 6–8 weeks after LOI deadline.
- Submission platform: ProposalCentral (search for "Cures Within Reach" opportunities).
- Community engagement: Funding available for collaborations with community-based organizations; not required for ultra-rare diseases.
- Review criteria: Innovation in repurposing, feasibility, patient impact, research team, and strength of the AI-driven hypothesis.
Additional Information
- The funding must be the sole, late, or final support required for the trial's aims. Trials are eligible if additional CWR funding improves success chances or accelerates patient impact.
- Institutional match may come from various sources (institutional, public, private, or industry).
- Full scientific and AI details are not required at the LOI stage, but a clear overview and workflow are essential.
- For questions about eligibility, AI models, or fit, contact research@cureswithinreach.org.
External Links
Contact Information