Request for Applications

The Cancer Therapeutics Innovation Pipeline (CTIP) Program was established to capitalize on Ontario’s expertise in cancer biology and drug discovery. Its aim is to create a pipeline of validated cancer targets and first-in-class or best-in-class, novel, selective lead molecules (small molecules or biologics) to attract partnerships and/or investment for further preclinical and clinical development. To generate a sustainable pipeline, CTIP will support projects that aim to provide increasing evidence of target validation and disease association using data from knowledge bases, functional assays, and drug screening in relevant in vitro and in vivo models of the cancer type of interest.

CTIP funds projects in four stages of preclinical drug discovery and is currently inviting applications for the following two funding streams:

Early Validation projects: Deliver robust translational evidence that a Target-of-Interest (TOI) is associated with a specific cancer type(s) based on data from knowledge bases and from studies demonstrating that perturbation of the TOI in relevant cell-based models produces anti-cancer effects sufficient to trigger a drug discovery campaign.

Funding available: Up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of two years.

Early Accelerator projects: Deliver a validated primary assay to enable initial screening of molecules against a defined target. Preliminary evidence of linearity of results between the primary assay and supporting secondary assays under development is also required. 

Funding available: Up to $150,000 for a maximum of one year.

OICR invites applications from investigators at Ontario academic centres, hospital research institutes, or other government research institutions. CTIP funding is only tenable in Ontario. For-profit entities are not eligible to apply. 

Deadlines:

• Open for applications (via ReportNet): Starting on April 8, 2024
• RFA information session*: April 24, 2024, 2 – 3 p.m. ET (Watch a recording)
• Notice of Intent submission: No later than May 16, 2024 by 5 p.m. ET
• Letter of Intent deadline: May 16, 2024 by 5 p.m. ET
• Full application deadline: August 29, 2024 by 5 p.m. ET
• Funding start date: December 1, 2024

*This session will be recorded and posted on OICR’s funding opportunities web page.

Questions?

Please refer to the FAQ page before contacting the OICR Scientific Secretariat office at ScientificSecretariat@oicr.on.ca.

How to apply:

To access funding opportunity resources, including: data sharing, open access and retention, eligible expenses, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion tactics in research, Ontario First mandate, patient partner payment policy and ReportNet instructions, please visit the bottom of the Funding Opportunities website.