The National Institutes of Health is seeking applications for the second phase of the Targeted Genome Editor Delivery (TARGETED) Challenge. The challenge aims to improve the state of technology to include a programmable delivery system for gene editing and solutions for crossing the blood-brain barrier. Learn more about the program in the upcoming informational webinar detailed below.
Gene editing has the potential of treating genetic diseases at the source by correcting the faulty genes within our cells. To advance therapeutic applications of genome editing technologies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched the second phase of the TARGETED (Targeted Genome Editor Delivery) Challenge. This $6,000,000, three-phase competition seeks to improve in vivo delivery technologies for genome editors, focusing on two Target Areas:
- Programmable Delivery System for Gene Editing machinery that can target specific tissues or cell types and;
- Highly efficient non-viral delivery systems capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier to deliver genome editing machinery to a substantial proportion of clinically relevant cell types in the central nervous system.
Now in Phase 2, participants must submit data from experimental testing that demonstrate delivery and editing performance, along with descriptions of their methodology, technology, and how their solution addresses the Challenge criteria. Participation in Phase 1 is not required to apply for Phase 2. Up to 10 winners of Phase 2 will be awarded $250,000 each and will be eligible to compete in Phase 3.
The TARGETED Challenge is part of the Somatic Cell Genome Editing Program co-led by the NIH Common Fund, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS),and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The NIH BRAIN Initiative, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) are also contributors to this Challenge.
Interested? Have questions? Register here for the informational webinar on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm ET. NIH staff will be available to answer questions about the Challenge during the webinar.
Please direct all inquiries about the TARGETED Challenge to: Targeted_Challenge@freelancer.com.