LAB150-NextGen

LAB150-NextGen is a drug development program that supports the advancement and commercialization of research projects and technologies in the Toronto biomedical ecosystem with the twin goals of building new drug candidates and launching new Ontario-based biotechnology companies. This is conducted through partnered work between academic labs and pharma-grade contract research organizations (CROs), with TIAP acting as project manager for the co-development and execution of a drug development R&D plan. All intellectual property is assigned to the investigator’s research institution, which must be part of TIAP’s membership (see Eligibility below).

Funding and Objectives

Funding is provided in two stages, outlined below:

• Stage 1 provides up to $400,000 USD towards discovery of developable molecules with clear target engagement and biological activity against a validated therapeutic target. 

Potential Activities:

• Drug screening
• Counter-screening (selectivity)
• Hit validation & profiling
• In vitro activity assay to assess biological activity
• In vitro ADME
• Target engagement/binding assay
• Structural biology
• Mechanism of action studies – confirming link between activity and phenotype

Projects that successfully complete Stage 1 will be eligible for additional funding under Stage 2.

• Stage 2 provides up to an additional $1.2M USD towards generation of lead molecules with in vivo proof-of-concept, followed by venture creation and additional fundraising.

Potential Activities:

• • Optimization – hit expansion, hit-to-lead
  • In vitro ADME
  • Selectivity profiling
  • Target engagement/binding assay
  • Structural biology
  • Safety, tox testing
  • In vivo PK/PD
  • In vivo efficacy

Funding is split between the academic lab and one or more CROs based on the needs of project. At each stage, the amount of funding provided will depend on the specific project needs. This program provides milestone-based funding. While the full project workplan may be approved, the release of payments will depend on progress across several go/no-go decision points built into the proposal. Decisions on whether to proceed past go/no-go points will be made by a steering committee of industry and venture leaders.

Eligibility

Applicants must belong to a TIAP member institution and be actively developing a research program leveraging novel discoveries and/or capabilities with clear therapeutic applications or platform potential. This program is agnostic to the modality of the therapeutic strategy (e.g., small molecules, antibodies, oligonucleotide, cell and gene therapy).

Starting Material: Therapeutic targets must be well-validated, with preference for early molecules or tool compounds that have shown biological activity.

The following chart provides guidelines for a strong opportunity profile. Investigators are encouraged to apply to this program even if their projects do not meet all the points below.

Process

Investigators who are interested in LAB150-NextGen can submit a short application HERE. The entire approval process has multiple steps of evaluation and can take 4-6 months.

• Screening (~2 weeks): Applications will be screened on a rolling basis (NOTE: Deadline for intake into the next review period is  June 30, 2025). The TIAP team will notify applicants of whether the project is within scope of the program.
• Diligence (~4 weeks): A meeting will be set up to discuss the data, followed by internal scientific and commercial diligence conducted by the TIAP team. Please note that TIAP has a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) with all its member institutions.
• Workplan (2-3 months): If the project is moved forward, TIAP will work with investigators and CROs to co-build a workplan. This will outline the specific drug development activities at the academic and industry sites, timelines, milestones, and go/no-go decision points.
• Committee Meeting: The workplan will be presented to a steering committee composed of industry and venture experts for approval. Revisions may be needed.

Once the project receives approval, TIAP will act as project manager and set up regular meetings to ensure progress over the course of funding. Release of funds at each go/no-go decision will require milestones to be met and approval from the steering committee.

APPLY TO THE LAB150-NEXTGEN PROGRAM BY COMPLETING THE FORM HERE.

NOTE: The deadline for intake into the next review period is June 30, 2025.