Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases: TRND Program






TRND collaborative projects will be initiated at any stage during preclinical development. Projects of interest will be at one of the following stages:
  • Lead optimization including clear structure-activity relationships (SAR) in at least two structurally distinct chemical series or well defined biological lead, reproducible activity in primary and orthogonal assays, efficacy in an accepted animal model (or when not available, cellular model) of the disease, and initial indications of favorable Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) properties

  • High-quality New Molecular Entity (NME) lead(s) with clear efficacy, good DMPK properties, and initial non-GLP safety studies demonstrating absence of gross toxicities
    • NME clinical candidates with incomplete IND-enabling PK/PD/toxicology/formulation studies or
    • drug previously approved for another indication by FDA with efficacy in an animal (or when not available, cellular) model of a rare or neglected disease, making it a candidate for repurposing but in need of formulation, dose-finding, disease-specific toxicology, or other studies to allow clinical testing to commence.
The TRND program will partner with academic laboratories, not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit companies.  Foreign organizations may also apply. 

Applications are made through the online grants management website, ProposalCentral (https://proposalcentral.altum.com/). Submitted research applications will be reviewed for scientific merit and technical feasibility, as well as program balance and availability of resources.  Successful applicants will collaborate with TRND to create and implement a therapeutic development project plan.  Note this is not a grant or contract program; no extramural funding will be provided.


For more information about the TRND program, including deadlines for current or upcoming opportunities, please visit the TRND webpage at http://trnd.nih.gov. The application deadline for the current cycle of the program is September 30, 2012.



TRND Program FAQ: http://www.ncats.nih.gov/about/faq/trnd/trnd-faq.html


Inquiries

Andre M. Pilon, PhD
Division of Preclinical Innovation (DPI)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
National Institutes of Health [c]
P: 301-827-2746
F: 301-827-2534
Posted by at