Kite-Gilead Cell Therapy Innovation Program
Stanford's Kite-Gilead Cell Therapy Innovation Program funds early-stage research advancing CAR T therapies and cell therapy applications in cancer and immune diseases.
Funder: Stanford University
Due Dates: July 15, 2026 (CE faculty PI waiver requests) | July 22, 2026 (pre-proposal submission)
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 in direct costs (+ indirects) for up to 18 months per award; milestones-based budget required at full proposal stage.
Summary: Supports innovative, early-stage cell therapy research led by Stanford faculty, with emphasis on advancing CAR T therapies and expanding cell therapy applications beyond oncology.
Key Information: Only Stanford faculty with PI eligibility or approved CE faculty PI waiver may apply; pre-proposals are submitted directly to the program.
Description
The Kite-Gilead Cell Therapy Innovation Program, under the Stanford-Kite Strategic Alliance, is designed to accelerate early-stage, high-impact cell therapy research at Stanford University. The program seeks to foster collaborations and advance projects that could lead to clinical-sponsored research, in-licensing, and start-up opportunities. Major focus areas include improving CAR T cell safety and efficacy, developing new therapeutic targets, understanding mechanisms to avoid CAR T cell exhaustion, and exploring cell therapy applications in fields such as oncology, rheumatology, and immunology.
Research of interest encompasses:
- Novel CAR-T strategies
- Patient stratification tools and biomarkers
- Correlative analysis of biosamples from clinical trials
- Disease heterogeneity in hematological and solid tumors
- Non-cancer cell therapy indications (e.g., autoimmune disorders)
- Mechanistic studies of T cell activation and exhaustion
Awardees will have access to Kite-Gilead’s scientific expertise, and project progress will be assessed via proposed milestones.
