Merck Research Laboratories SEEDS Program to Fund Research on Protein Engineering and Antibody Therapeutics
Internal pre-proposal deadline is Thursday, June 13
Merck Research Laboratories (MRL) has invited Boston University to participate in their MRL Scientific Engagement and Emerging Discovery Science (SEEDS) Program as one of a select group of six institutions. The program will provide BU faculty investigators with funding up to $200,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) and access to MRL scientists to validate and advance emerging therapeutic targets, pathways, and technologies that show potential relevance to treat human disease.
Initial, non-confidential pre-proposals must be submitted to Industry Engagement (engageBU@bu.edu) for review by Thursday, June 13, to allow for internal review prior to formal submission to MRL by Monday, June 17 at 8 pm EDT. Pre-proposals should be in the format required by MRL using a template to be provided by Industry Engagement upon request (please send requests to engageBU@bu.edu). Please also include a budget using the BU internal budget template for non-federal sponsors.
The strongest proposals with the most compelling cases to experimentally address areas relevant for the discovery and development of protein and antibody therapeutics will be considered for funding, including but not limited to the following biologics domains of strategic intent of most interest to MRL:
- Blood Brain Barrier Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins
- Affinity Independent Factors Contributing to T Cell Engager Potency
- Novel High Throughput Methods to Measure Protein Aggregation and Self-interaction in Biologics Modalities
- One Step High Throughput Protein Characterization
- Engineering to Enhance Fc Effector Function
- Investigating Alternative Approaches to Reduce Kidney
- Absorption of Small Format Biologics
- In Vitro Transcription and Translation (IVTT) for Efficient Protein and Antibody Production
- Other Relevant Areas of Biologics, Protein and Antibody Research
MRL will invite and work with a selection of pre-proposals to develop and submit a full proposal in mid-July.
Please reach out to Industry Engagement for questions and materials required for proposal submission.