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PIDD-PICR-VET Pre-Clinical and Translational Assistance

PIDD-PICR-VET Pre-Clinical and Translational Assistance

Funding opportunity title 

PIDD-PICR-VET Pre-Clinical and Translational Assistance

Key dates
Announcement:September 28, 2026
Due:December 14, 2026

Introduction

To assist in the translational efforts of Purdue faculty, the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery (PIDD), the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR), and the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s comparative oncology research team are announcing a call to assist in testing potential therapeutic or diagnostic agents for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer using canine models or canine clinical trials.

This program is intended to provide assistance to projects that already have a diagnostic, small-molecule drug, biologic, device or combination product that is nearing Investigative New Drug (IND)-enabling studies or nearing the entry into animal or human clinical trials. Drugs intended for human use are appropriate for this RFA and any data generated are envisioned to help support the raising of funds for future clinical translation and/or the submission of a future IND application. Repurposed therapeutics will be considered for this RFA.

This assistance could include but is not necessarily limited to:

  • Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies in canines
  • Route-of-administration studies in canines
  • Toxicity studies in laboratory canines in support of future canine clinical trials
  • Scale-up of drugs for canine studies
  • Safety and feasibility pilot studies in canines
  • Funding to initiate laboratory or pet canine clinical trials

This award is not for:

  • The identification of new biological drug targets
  • Hit identification  
  • Initial synthetic structural-activity-relationship studies
  • Hit-to-lead identification
  • In vitro efficacy or toxicity

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to meet with Dr. Shawna Klahn (sklahn@purdue.edu) from the College of Veterinary Medicine to discuss projects prior to submission.

General guidelines

  1. Qualification – Lead PI must currently be an associate or full member of the PICR and preferably also a member (or become a member) of the PIDD. Cancer-relevant projects will be considered from investigators who not yet PICR members, provided they apply for membership and are approved before the award is distributed.
  2. Proposal length – Proposal should be single-spaced and a maximum of 3 pages in length (Calibri or similar font at 11pt) with no less than 0.5 inch page margins. References are not part of the page limit. 
  3. File format – Only .doc, .docx or .pdf files will be accepted. Any figures should be embedded in the document and must fit within the maximum page limit.
  4. Future reporting – Brief progress summaries of the project (e.g. IND filed, clinical trial started, etc.) must be submitted to the PICR and the PIDD. Additionally, any funding and/or publications that are generated from this activity must be reported to both institutes:
    1. Karson Putt – PIDD, (puttk@purdue.edu) and
    2. Doug Cuttell – PICR (dcuttell@purdue.edu)
  5. Deadline – Submit your electronic application by 5 p.m. on the cycle due date. No exceptions. The electronic submission system will not allow applications beyond the deadline. Once here you can enter your Purdue email and password. Applicants do not need to work with pre-award/SPS to submit an application for this internal RFA. 
Submit application

Award

The amount of funding and any other assistance requested should reflect the needs of the project. Request for funds cannot exceed $75,000. These funds must be used within 12 months of the funding being awarded.

Acceptable uses of award money. Award funding can be used by the PI’s lab, by Purdue core facilities, and College of Veterinary Medicine facilities for animal testing. Funds may also be used by outside contract research organizations (CROs) to perform tests that are not readily available or easily conducted at Purdue. 

Funds cannot be used for faculty salaries, hospitality expenses, F&A or capital equipment.

No cost extension (NCE): 

Extensions are not automatic and require approval from PICR and PIDD leadership. We encourage investigators to make reasonable progress toward utilizing the funds and advancing the proposed project within the original award period (i.e., 12 months) whenever possible. There will be no exceptions to this process.

Application format

The following information must be included within the maximum 2-page limit:

  1. Overall description and significance of disease or human/animal health need
  2. Specific description of indication and/or clinical endpoints
  3. Description of diagnostic, drug, device, etc. to be tested
  4. Description of testing to be performed and what materials will be needed
    1. Will GLP/GMP material be required?
    2. Quantity of material required?
    3. Can the material be sourced in sufficient quantities?
  5. Approximate timeline of project (see item #4 below – Letter(s) of support)
  6. How assistance from this RFA will lead to the successful translation of this project into a human/animal clinical trial.

Additional information that should be included if applicable (not included in the page limit requirements):

  1. References
  2. NIH biosketches for all involved PIs and key personnel
  3. Budget
  4. Letter(s) of support should be submitted by the clinical collaborator(s) to describe the study design and timelines (e.g. recruitment, accrual, laboratory animal purchase, etc.) 

Review criteria

  1. Potential for the proposed cancer-focused project to raise the prominence of Purdue and the PIDD and PICR.
  2. Scientific merit
  3. Appropriateness of budget and other assistance requested
  4. Potential for further translation of technology
  5. Potential for subsequent external follow-on funding
  6. Feasibility of completing the proposed project within the proposed time frame
  7. Potential impact on patient care

Publications resulting from support from this award should acknowledge both PIDD and PICR as follows:

“The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the Purdue University Institute for Drug Discovery and support from the Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, P30CA023168”

Acceptance of an award will indicate your willingness to serve on the PICR’s Pilot Grants Review Committee for at least two consecutive cycles