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University of Wisconsin–Madison

Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program 2025

PostedNovember 21, 2024
To:Chairs and Administrators; Departments in the Biological Sciences; Associate Deans for Research; College/School Research Administrators
From:Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Date:November 21, 2024
Subject:Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program

Deadline

Deadline for Internal Review:January 07, 2025

Project Description

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading global healthcare company committed to delivering new, innovative pharmaceutical products to patients and championing the fight against disease and pain. Ono Pharmaceutical carries out these goals in cooperation with researchers, patients, their families, and healthcare providers.

The Ono Pharma Foundation was established to support academic research in relevant scientific fields, which have the potential of making significant impact on therapeutic approaches to disease. The Foundation’s competitive awards program, the Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program (“Ono Initiative”), is the embodiment of the Foundation’s commitment to focus on and accelerate researcher-driven open innovation by supporting high-risk and high-reward science research projects which have potential to lead to science discoveries/solutions and, possibly, based on further research, to breakthrough treatments for patients.

The purpose of the Ono Initiative is to support scientist Principal Investigators (“PIs”) with creative ideas in selected scientific research fields with the mission of seeking discoveries/solutions and development of high impact science. The goals of the Ono Initiative are to:

    • Identify and develop innovative research proposals and results that could lead to the development of breakthrough treatment solutions for patients.
    • Support academic research and the career development of promising young and mid-career scientists.
    • Build strong relationships within the community in order to lead to transformative research aligned with the Ono Initiative’s goals.

 

Annually, the Ono Pharma Foundation considers proposals from PIs for research that could ultimately transform human health. Although additional areas of research may be added in future years, in 2025 the Ono Pharma Foundation will only consider proposals for scientific research projects addressing the following field of science:

Chemical Biology Research

Target research of Chemical Biology is not specified by the Ono Initiative. Subjects of
interest include but are not limited to:

  • Modulating interactome and cell/tissue crosstalk
  • Manipulating biomolecular condensates and protein quality control systems
  • Deep understanding and emerging applications of chemical glycobiology
  • New concepts of drug delivery and localization to tissue/cell/organelle
  • Understanding and leveraging allostery in biology

 

Chemical Biology is defined as research that deals with the interface between chemistry and biology. The criteria for this field are deliberately broad so as not to disqualify potentially innovative and groundbreaking projects.

Amount per Award: $1,035,000 for the three year research project.
Duration of Award: Up to 3 years
Number of Awards: 3

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements. LOIs and final Proposals from applicants not meeting
the requirements listed below will not be considered.

  • PIs applying must be working at one of the nominating institutions. Nominating institutions might be replaced or added to in subsequent years.
  • The PI must have an MD and/or a PhD degree.
  • The PI must be a new applicant to the Ono Initiative, or, if they are a returning applicant, must be applying for a project different from the one they previously proposed.
  • The PI must be a young and/or mid-career scientist (15 years or below of experience from starting independent academic position).
  • The PI may not already be engaged in other sponsored research and/or collaborative research with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and/or grant program with Ono Pharma Foundation.
  • The PI may not apply for funding to amplify current work. However, PIs may research a new idea based on a prior finding of the PI.
  • The PI must not be a healthcare professional (defined as individuals currently holding an active state license for which they are (a) qualified to prescribe, administer, use or supply any medicinal or medical products or (b) perform any professional clinical services). A PI with an MD but without an active state medical license is still eligible.
  • PIs serving on a healthcare formulary or similar committee are not eligible.

 

UW-Madison may nominate 2 applicants in Chemical Biology Research.

Website

The following link contains additional information on the program and specific application instructions:
https://www.onofound.org/for-applicants/

Internal Competition Application Instructions

Applications for Internal Review

To submit your application, attach a single PDF to an email to: grants@research.wisc.edu

Please include the following:

  • Cover Page: Include name and academic title of PI, contact information, and title of project.
  • Vision of the Proposed Research: One-page single-spaced 12pt font. Reference list does not contribute to page limit. Figures may be included but should not exceed an additional two pages. If there is a figure that best explains your project, please indicate which one.
  • CV:
    • The CV may not exceed five pages;
    • NIH Biosketch format is preferred. The new format extends the page limit for the biosketch from four to five pages and allows researchers to describe up to five of their most significant contributions to science, along with the historical background that framed their research. Investigators can outline the central findings of prior work and the influence of those findings on the investigator’s field.
    • The CV must disclose all grants or awards currently received or pending which would be relevant to the Proposed Research.

Sponsor Deadlines

Letters of Intent are due to Ono Pharma Foundation by February 14, 2025. Applications are due to Ono Pharma Foundation by May 08, 2025.

Questions?

Contact grants@research.wisc.edu.