Initiatives

Overview

We seek to fund innovative ideas to develop new small-molecules or biologic-based therapeutics against intractable disease targets.

MTI Innovation Awards

Award Overview and Therapeutic Focus

Focus will be on new therapeutic modalities based on induced proximity or other innovative approaches that allow researchers to target previously undruggable or disease-relevant pathways. Innovation Investigators will be awarded $90,000 in direct costs for a one-year period, aimed at achieving specific milestones agreed upon by the PI and the MTI Executive Committee. The award is renewable for a second year if the first-year milestones are met. Awardees will have access to small-molecule screening and medicinal chemistry support through MTI, with screening efforts funded by the award, while medicinal chemistry support will be provided directly by MTI. The funds must strictly be used for drug discovery efforts outlined in the proposal, not for basic science research.

Application Requirements and Eligibility

PIs will be required to meet with a member of the MTI Executive Committee quarterly to discuss progress. The application should include a two-page project summary (excluding references), covering the disease background, the potential impact of a novel therapeutic modality, the target, the approach, and specific first-year milestones, followed by milestones for a second year if funding is extended. A detailed budget must be submitted separately, with spending approved based on this budget. Dates and deadlines for the RFA are to be determined. Eligibility is limited to PIs in the MCB department, though additional collaborating PIs from other UC Berkeley departments may be involved.

Applications should be emailed to mtiinnovation@berkeley.edu.

Novartis-Berkeley Translational Chemical Biology Institute
Amgen-Berkeley Chemoproteomics Center of Excellence
MTI-Amgen Collaborative

Amount raised

10MM

MTI was started with a generous gift of $10 million.

Venture capital dollars raised from MTI spinout companies

$1BN

More than $1 billion of venture capital dollars raised from spinout companies from MTI members

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