2025 CSL Research Acceleration Initiative – Call for Proposals

Duke University has been invited by CSL Behring to participate in the CSL 2025 Research Acceleration Initiative (CSL 2025 RAI). This competitive initiative aims to build relationships with entrepreneurial researchers and fast-track discovery of innovative medicines that address unmet needs, both at Duke and other national and international academic institutions. CSL Behring is offering funding of up to $400K over a two-year period for approved projects. These collaborations will engage CSL’s scientific liaisons to foster joint exploration of innovative research aimed at transformative medicines and technologies.

Click on the link below to attend the CSL RAI Info Sessions:

January 23, 2025 at 1pm ET

February 5, 2025 at 11am ET

Important dates to know:

February 10, 2025 Deadline

Submit a 300-word non-confidential abstract to the OEP office before but NO LATER THAN Feb 10 for internal review.

Submit to: Ed Pagani (ed.pagani@duke.edu)

February 20, 2025 Deadline

Deadline to submit the 300-word abstract (after approval by OEP office) to CSL.

March 30, 2025

Selected applicants invited by CSL to submit a full application.

The Office for External Partnerships, in collaboration with the Office for Translation & Commercialization, will review each proposal before submission. This review process aims to ensure the safeguarding of Duke’s confidential information (abstract should not disclose Duke confidential information) and verify that any intellectual property essential for the proposed research is neither licensed nor encumbered.

While postdoctoral fellows and graduate students are welcome to contribute to the research team, they are not eligible to independently submit a proposal and serve as a PI. Only individuals employed by Duke University are permitted to be part of the research team for the proposed project.

For a thorough overview of the RFP process, including proposal submission process, CSL’s areas of interest, and preferred platform technologies, click on the links below:

CSL 2025 RAI Flyer

CSL 2025 RAI Presentation

Introduction to CSL and Research Focus Areas:

• Transplant & Immunology: Pathomechanisms of interest: Inhibition of B and T cell responses; Novel therapies for targeting inflammation; Strategies to induce tolerance for Transplantation and Autoimmune diseases. Indications of interest: Novel biologic therapies for the treatment and prevention of cGVHD, AMR, CLAD; primary Sjörgren’s Syndrome, Idiopathic Myopathies and Systemic Sclerosis.
• Hematology: Acute thrombotic conditions (macro- and micro-circulation). Acute hemorrhage control and Patient Blood Management (PBM). Non-viral in vivo gene therapy. Iron metabolism.
• Cardiovascular and Renal: Atherosclerotic plaque stabilization in high-risk patient groups. Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Immune checkpoint inhibitor myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathies. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Autoimmune glomerulonephritis indications. Podocyte health. Kidney-targeted drug delivery.
• Vaccines: New vaccine targets. RNA delivery and therapeutics. Immune mechanisms.
• Gene Medicine: Gene editing. Gene expression. In vivo gene delivery.
• Plasma Protein Research: Novel therapeutic candidates derived from human plasma. Plasma protein formulation & delivery. Engineered affinity binders for plasma protein purification.

For inquiries, please reach out to Ed Pagani, PhD, Executive Director of Duke’s Office for External Partnerships, at ed.pagani@duke.edu.