The UC Berkeley Molecular Therapeutics Initiative seeks to accelerate bold, early-stage therapeutic discovery projects with strong potential for translational impact. The MTI Innovation Awards are intended to support novel therapeutic concepts, proof-of-concept studies, and startup-relevant projects that can benefit from MTI’s drug discovery infrastructure, including assay development, screening, medicinal chemistry, ADME/PK, MS and translational guidance.
We invite proposals for innovative small-molecule, biologic, computational or platform-based therapeutic approaches that could address important unmet medical needs. Projects should be more than basic biology: they should articulate a plausible therapeutic opportunity, a clear path to proof of concept, and specific milestones that can be achieved within one year.
Awardees will receive $90,000 in direct costs for one year. Awards may be renewed for a second year based on progress and milestone completion. Funded projects will work with the MTI Executive Committee to refine milestones and identify appropriate MTI support.
Application
Applications should include:
- Project summary, up to 2 pages, excluding references
- Biological rationale
- Therapeutic concept and novelty
- Preliminary data
- Proposed approach and use of MTI resources (MedChem, MS, HTS, PK/ADME)
- First-year milestones and contingency plans
- Budget, separate from the 2-page summary; Budget is direct cost only, WuXi Medchem resources are included; HTS/MS/PK needs to be budgeted.
Please email applications to: mtiinnovation@berkeley.edu
Key Dates
- RFA opens: May 18, 2026
- Applications due: June 14, 2026
- Project start date: September 1, 2026 (flexible)
Eligibility
Applicants must be UC Berkeley PIs (senate and professional faculty, exceptional PI status holders, Trainees are eligible to apply as PI with support of their faculty mentor). Collaborative proposals are encouraged, including teams that bring together disease biology, assay development, chemistry, therapeutic engineering, computation, or translational expertise.
Reporting
Awardees will provide a brief mid-year progress and budget update, a final progress and budget report, and a presentation at an MTI Innovation retreat or related MTI event.
Contact:
MTI
mtiinnovation@berkeley.edu
