Science Youtuber Jacob Beautemps introduces the six Challenge teams of stage 2 at Breaking Lab
Goal of this Challenge: New approaches for the development of antiviral therapeutics
Your Challenge:
Broad-Spectrum Antivirals
Hello people with radical new ideas! We need breakthrough innovations to fight viral infections. We need bold ideas. We need you.
Viruses are an unpredictable threat to global health, the economy and society - we have known this at least since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Several million people have died since the beginning of the pandemic. There is still a lack of effective therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants. The truth is: there are still no therapeutics against many other viruses either. Potentiating viral loads, high mutation rates and limited targets are inherent to viruses, making them true "survival artists" and placing high demands on drug development. The great desire to overcome the pandemic helped new technologies based on mRNA and equally new ways in drug delivery to achieve a rapid breakthrough in vaccine development – contrary to the expectations of many experts.
Similarly, breakthroughs in antiviral drug development are needed. Highly innovative approaches are required to combat viral infections. That is why SPRIND is supporting new technological approaches for breakthrough innovations to combat viral infections with this Challenge.
Similarly, breakthroughs in antiviral drug development are needed. Highly innovative approaches are required to combat viral infections. That is why SPRIND is supporting new technological approaches for breakthrough innovations to combat viral infections with this Challenge.
The goal of the Challenge is to expand the repertoire of antiviral therapeutics with breakthrough technologies so that new treatment options will be available in the future and patients can be helped quickly. The Challenge teams are developing approaches for broad-spectrum antivirals and platform technologies for the rapid development of antiviral agents. At the end of the Challenge, the active agent resulting from the solution approach has to be tested in a proof of concept adapted to the development stage.
How we support breakthrough innovation
Participating in the Challenge pushes the teams to their full potential. We therefore provide intensive and individual support. This includes funding the teams as well as individual support from a Challenge coach, who has significant experience in the Challenge area and has already implemented high-impact innovations.
In the first year of the Challenge, SPRIND funded the teams' work with up to 700,000 euros, and in the current second year already with up to 1.5 million euros. Funding will increase again for the teams in the third stage. We provide funding quickly and unbureaucratically, so that the teams can concentrate fully on their innovations.
Thinking one step further: Ideas with the potential for disruptive innovations must be brought to market to benefit patients. That is why SPRIND continues to support projects with potential for breakthrough innovation even after the Challenge has ended.
In the first year of the Challenge, SPRIND funded the teams' work with up to 700,000 euros, and in the current second year already with up to 1.5 million euros. Funding will increase again for the teams in the third stage. We provide funding quickly and unbureaucratically, so that the teams can concentrate fully on their innovations.
Thinking one step further: Ideas with the potential for disruptive innovations must be brought to market to benefit patients. That is why SPRIND continues to support projects with potential for breakthrough innovation even after the Challenge has ended.
Our Challenge is based on a competition between a large number of teams, in which we work together to find out which approaches have potential for a disruptive innovation. In the process, a jury decides which teams move on to the next round in each case based on interim evaluations. In the first stage, nine teams were selected to carry out their breakthrough research. In the current second stage, there are still six teams.
The Challenge
Start of the 2nd stage
After an intensive first year, the nine teams from the first stage presented their trailblazing research results to the jury and renowned investors in Leipzig. Six outstanding teams were selected for the second round. As part of the continuous exchange between the teams, two groups even merged to jointly advance their projects.
The Teams
Team Virustrap uses DNA Origami technology to build nano scale traps for viruses.
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Dietz (TU München), Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer (Helmholtz Zentrum München, TU München), Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner (Universität Regensburg)
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Hendrik Dietz (TU München), Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer (Helmholtz Zentrum München, TU München), Prof. Dr. Ralf Wagner (Universität Regensburg)
Team RNA-drugs will establish a platform to develop antiviral low molecular weight inhibitors targeting viral RNAs.
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Schwalbe (GU Frankfurt), Prof. Dr. Sandra Ciesek (GU Frankfurt), Julia Weigand (TU Darmstadt), Marcel Blommers (Saverna Therapeutics AG), Andreas Schlundt (GU Frankfurt), Michael Göbel (GU Frankfurt), Peter Maas (Specs), Franz Bracher (LMU München), Daniel Merk (LMU München)
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Schwalbe (GU Frankfurt), Prof. Dr. Sandra Ciesek (GU Frankfurt), Julia Weigand (TU Darmstadt), Marcel Blommers (Saverna Therapeutics AG), Andreas Schlundt (GU Frankfurt), Michael Göbel (GU Frankfurt), Peter Maas (Specs), Franz Bracher (LMU München), Daniel Merk (LMU München)
The iGUARD team develops next-generation RNAi-based molecular therapeutics against respiratory viruses using machine-learning for automated target identification and an optimized vector platform for delivery and preclinical validation in human patient-relevant models.
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Axel Schambach (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover), Prof. Dr. Armin Braun (Fraunhofer ITEM), Dr. Adrian Schwarzer (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover), Philippe Vollmer Barbosa (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Axel Schambach (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover), Prof. Dr. Armin Braun (Fraunhofer ITEM), Dr. Adrian Schwarzer (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover), Philippe Vollmer Barbosa (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover)
Team PROTAC-powered antivirals create a platform for expedited development of next generation broad-spectrum antiviral drugs by harnessing strategies from in silico modeling and targeted protein degradation.
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Mark Brönstrup (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Prof. Dr. Rolf Hilgenfeld (Universität Lübeck), Katharina Rox (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Marjolein Kichert (Leiden University), Hannah Maple (Bio-Techne), Graham Marsh (Bio-Techne)
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Mark Brönstrup (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Prof. Dr. Rolf Hilgenfeld (Universität Lübeck), Katharina Rox (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Marjolein Kichert (Leiden University), Hannah Maple (Bio-Techne), Graham Marsh (Bio-Techne)
Team MucBoost develops an upgrade against pathogens: Boosting the antiviral efficacy of mucus.
Team members:
Dr. Daniel Lauster (FU Berlin), Prof. Dr. Benedikt Kaufer (Fu Berlin), Dr. Jakob Trimpert (FU Berlin), Prof. Dr. Christian Sieben (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger (Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie), Dr. Prisca Boisgeurin (Université de Montpellier), Marius Hittinger (PharmBioTec)
Team members:
Dr. Daniel Lauster (FU Berlin), Prof. Dr. Benedikt Kaufer (Fu Berlin), Dr. Jakob Trimpert (FU Berlin), Prof. Dr. Christian Sieben (Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung), Prof. Dr. Christian Hackenberger (Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie), Dr. Prisca Boisgeurin (Université de Montpellier), Marius Hittinger (PharmBioTec)
Team CRISPR antivirals use the antiviral defense system CRISPR/Cas13 - perfected by millions of years of evolution by bacteria - to block proliferation and cytopathic effects of RNA viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 through cleavage of their viral genome and mRNA.
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Zeisberg (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Gerd Hasenfuß (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Albert Osterhaus (TiHo Hannover), Prof. Dr. Gisa Herold (TiHo Hannover), Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann (Deutsches Primatenzentrum)
Team members:
Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Zeisberg (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Gerd Hasenfuß (Universitätsmedizin Göttingen), Prof. Dr. Albert Osterhaus (TiHo Hannover), Prof. Dr. Gisa Herold (TiHo Hannover), Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann (Deutsches Primatenzentrum)
The Jury
Our jury of scientists and science entrepreneurs will evaluate all applications and select the teams that have what it takes to implement breakthrough innovations.
Joachim Spatz
Karin Mölling
Detlev Riesner
Nikolaus Rajewsky
Manfred Schubert-Zsilavecz
Holger Reithinger
FAQ
Teams can choose which human pathogenic viruses or virus families they target in their approach.
A proof-of-concept (PoC) in a biological model should be possible within 3 years. Biological models can be, for example, cell cultures, organoids or animal models.
The teams must follow all applicable safety regulations in handling viruses and other biological substances at all times. This includes that experiments with viruses may only be carried out in safety laboratories that have a safety level corresponding to the risk classification of the virus. Failure to comply with safety regulations will result in the exclusion from the Challenge.
Gain-of-function experiments are prohibited in the Challenge. Teams that carry out gain-of-function experiments will be excluded from the Challenge.
SPRIND supports all teams in achieving the goal of the Challenge. This includes that SPRIND finances the work of the teams from the start of the Challenge. In addition, we provide all teams with a coach who has extensive experience in implementing breakthrough innovations. From this experience, the coach supports the teams, for example, in planning the work packages and experiments, also with regard to obtaining permits and approvals, or in networking with collaboration partners or subcontractors. In addition, SPRIND uses its network to promote the implementation of breakthrough innovations.
SPRIND finances the work of the teams within a predefined framework.
The funding is provided as an individual fixed price. In stage 1, SPRIND finances up to 700.000 euros per team. In stage 2, financing is up to 1.5 million euros per team and in stage, 3 financing can reach 2 million euros. The teams state their fixed price in their application for the respective stage. Payments will be disbursed in installments as defined in the agreement between SPRIND and the participating teams. There are no final accounts at the end of each stage. The responsibility for a realistic financial forecast and calculation of the financial requirements for each milestone is borne by the team.
The funding is provided as an individual fixed price. In stage 1, SPRIND finances up to 700.000 euros per team. In stage 2, financing is up to 1.5 million euros per team and in stage, 3 financing can reach 2 million euros. The teams state their fixed price in their application for the respective stage. Payments will be disbursed in installments as defined in the agreement between SPRIND and the participating teams. There are no final accounts at the end of each stage. The responsibility for a realistic financial forecast and calculation of the financial requirements for each milestone is borne by the team.
All expenses that serve to achieve the Challenge goal can be financed with SPRIND funds. This can include, for example, personnel costs, equipment and materials or rent of laboratory space.
The Challenge will run for 3 years, divided into 3 stages. Up to 11 teams will be admitted to Stage 1. Up to 6 teams will take part in Stage 2 and the final Stage 3 will consist of up to 4 teams.
The intellectual property rights created by the teams during the Challenge remain with the teams. SPRIND receives a free and non-exclusive right to use the results found. The teams agree to grant licences to third parties at market conditions.
SPRIND is committed to implementing breakthrough innovations and supporting innovators in bringing innovations to patients. If SPRIND identifies breakthrough innovation potential in the teams during the Challenge, their work can continue to be supported after the Challenge has ended.
Do you have further questions?
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at challenge@sprind.org.
Jano Costard, Challenge OfficerSPRIND Podcast #27: DIANE SEIMETZ AND JANO COSTARD
February 28, 2022
What is an "Innovation Challenge"? What role is played by competition and cooperation? And what are the current SPRIND challenges about? Our host Thomas Ramge asks: Dr. Diane Seimetz, co-founder of Biopharma Excellence and innovation coach, and Dr. Jano Costard, Challenge Officer of the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation.
Listen to the episode (in German).
What is an "Innovation Challenge"? What role is played by competition and cooperation? And what are the current SPRIND challenges about? Our host Thomas Ramge asks: Dr. Diane Seimetz, co-founder of Biopharma Excellence and innovation coach, and Dr. Jano Costard, Challenge Officer of the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation.
Listen to the episode (in German).