2025 Small Molecule Therapeutics Request for Proposals
The IMA aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries at Stanford University into new medicines through prototyping of innovative therapeutics and vaccines while enabling hypothesis-driven studies that impact human health. Through this request for proposals, the IMA is soliciting applications for projects to enter the High-Throughput Screening (HTS) and the Medicinal Chemistry module of the IMA. Basic research, including target identification, is outside the scope of the current solicitation.
Aim and Scope:
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High-throughput screening: The IMA aims to partner with PI labs to enable the development, optimization, and miniaturization of a biochemical or cell-based assay in 384- or 1536-well microplate format to screen against a +200,000-member small molecule library. Projects with a strong structural biology rationale (experimental or AlphaFold) or using a ligand-based approach, but limited to low-throughput assays, will be considered for a virtual screen.
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Small molecule drug prototyping: Engineering of one or more small molecule leads to improve potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics with the goal of identifying a high-quality, patentable drug prototype. Projects with one or more small molecule leads (or series) as starting points for medicinal chemistry are encouraged to apply. Projects that have successfully completed HTS campaigns are eligible to enter the IMA small molecule prototyping program.
Competitive projects require 1) a strong therapeutic hypothesis that addresses a poorly-met medical need, 2) a novel biological target or mode-of-action that is well-differentiated from other ongoing translational programs in academia or the biopharma industry, 3) enabled reproducible in vitro assays and/or animal models to guide small molecule drug prototyping. The goal of each project is to validate the therapeutic hypothesis underpinning the scientific discovery while generating intellectual property around the drug prototype that emerges from this work.
Provided Support:
High-throughput screening: Selected projects receive access to the High-Throughput Screening group at the Nucleus. Support will include access to HTS compound libraries, virtual screening capabilities, instrumentation fees, associated consumables, expert training, and advice in assay development for high-throughput screening projects.
Small molecule drug prototyping: Selected projects receive access to the Medicinal Chemistry group at the Nucleus to facilitate the design, synthesis, and screening of novel small molecules to identify lead drug prototypes. Support will focus on improving pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of established molecular targets.
Preclinical pharmacology: Additionally, selected projects may also access the IMA’s Preclinical Pharmacology module for evaluating efficacy and/or pharmacokinetics/toxicology of the most promising drug candidates in a suitable in-vitro and in-vivo disease model.
External resources: Depending on the nature and requirements of each project, the IMA can also provide access to strategic alliances and qualified contract research organizations (CROs) to support awarded projects. Upon mutual agreement between the PI and the IMA, we will also help identify potential partners (pharma/VC) for the project exit.
Project management: IMA module leads in HTS, Medicinal Chemistry, and Preclinical Pharmacology will collaboratively help the PI formulate a goal- and milestone-driven project plan. In addition, the IMA Project Management team will support the project in planning, budgeting, and identifying outsourcing opportunities.
Financial Support: Awarded projects can be supported for 12–18 months and the specific level of support will vary by project needs. Details regarding specific roles, responsibilities, and financial allocations will be elaborated in individual award letters issued to selected projects. The IMA will not provide salary support for members of the PI’s lab. The PI-lab is expected to contribute the equivalent of one full-time FTE to the project.
Collaboration:
It is generally expected that the projects are run in a collaborative and fully transparent manner including decision-making processes, data generation, and handling, experimental design, and external collaborations or resources. The IMA will act in a fully confidential manner and guarantee long-term data storage and accessibility.
Deadline:
All applications must be received by 5 PM PDT on Friday, March 28th, 2025.
All Stanford faculty with PI status are eligible to apply. The support of the IMA is limited to one active project per PI at a time. However, PIs with an active IMA collaboration can be listed as a co-PI.
Proposals should be submitted directly through the Sarafan ChEM-H SlideRoom Portal.
Proposals should be submitted as a single PDF file containing the following materials in the order indicated below. All documents must be single-spaced, Arial 11-point font with 1-inch margins.
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Title page (1-page max):
- Project title, investigator name(s), department, address, phone number, and email address.
- Project summary for a lay audience (250 words max).
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2025 Small Molecule Therapeutics RFP - Questionnaire
- Please download and complete the intake 2025 Small Molecule Therapeutics RFP – Questionnaire.
- NIH-format biosketch for all investigators
You don’t need to submit your applications to your Research Process Manager (RPM) in RMG or through your Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Contract and Grant Officer (CGO) for their approval at this time.
Selection Process, Timeline, and Expectations:
Each proposal will undergo a three-step due diligence process:
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The most meritorious LOIs will be identified based on review by a panel (internal and external) knowledgeable in small molecule translational research and evaluated according to the following criteria:
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Novelty of the therapeutic hypothesis and biochemical approach
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Significance of the unmet medical need
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Feasibility of support with the available technologies and resources at the IMA
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Competitive landscape analysis and freedom to operate
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PIs whose project ideas are selected will be invited to submit full proposals in collaboration with senior staff members of the IMA. The full proposal will cover the following points:
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Description of envisioned mechanism of action
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Strategy and steps towards the generation and/or development of the therapeutic prototype including milestones, timelines, and go/no-go decision points.
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Biological context and description of previous work performed on the therapeutic target.
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Detailed description of in vitro assays and in vivo models needed for optimization and proof of concept studies.
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Profile of the optimal therapeutic prototype (target product profile)
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List of available and/or to-be-generated tool molecules and cell lines.
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Publication, intellectual property, and exit strategy.
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Mutual due diligence meetings between the IMA and PI to address any outstanding questions or concerns.
The awardees will be notified by early summer 2025, and collaborative project planning will begin soon after.
IMA Contacts:
Faculty members who are uncertain about whether their project aligns with this RFP are encouraged to contact IMA Directors for advice.
For questions about the High-Throughput Screening module of IMA, please contact:
Bruce Koch, Ph.D.
For questions about the Medicinal Chemistry module of the IMA, please contact
Mark Smith, Ph.D.
For questions about the funding opportunity and the application process, please contact:
Angel Cobo, Ph.D.
