Repurposing Research for Chicago 2026: Track 2 – Patient Groups
Supports Chicago-area clinical trials repurposing approved therapies for unmet needs in health disparities, pediatrics, rare diseases, and veterans, emphasizing patient impact and community engagement.
Funder: Cures Within Reach
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2027: Letter of Intent deadline (projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $125,000 per project (including required 20% institutional match); additional $5,000–$15,000 available for community engagement costs.
Summary: Supports Chicago-area clinical trials repurposing approved therapies for health disparities, pediatric, rare disease, and veteran patient groups, emphasizing patient impact and community engagement.
Key Information: Must be conducted at accredited Chicago-area research institutions; 2-stage application process (LOI, then full proposal if invited).
Description
This opportunity from Cures Within Reach funds interventional clinical repurposing trials at accredited research institutions in the greater Chicago area. The focus is on unsolved diseases affecting specific patient groups—such as those impacted by health disparities, pediatric populations, rare diseases, and veterans (including mental health, PTSD, and brain injuries). Eligible projects must use therapies already approved or recognized as safe by regulatory agencies but test them in new indications. The program encourages community engagement, particularly for trials addressing health disparities, and supports projects leveraging preclinical evidence, real-world data, or AI/machine learning tools for clinical trial design. The goal is to improve patient outcomes or quality of life for populations with unmet medical needs.
