National Institutes of Health Announces Launch of Phase 2 of the $6M TARGETED Challenge

The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) today opened the second phase of its TARGETED (Targeted Genome Editor Delivery) Challenge.

The three-phase challenge is a US$6M initiative supporting NIH's Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) commitment to developing targeted delivery systems to deliver genome editors to somatic (non-reproductive) cells of the body.

The TARGETED Challenge seeks to elevate in vivo delivery technologies for genome editors, focusing on two Target Areas: Programmable Delivery System for Gene Editing and Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier.

In Phase 1, participants were asked to submit a proposal describing their solution and how it will address the requirements for one of the Target Areas. Phase 1 prizes have been announced.

Now in Phase 2, participants must submit data from experimental testing that demonstrate delivery and editing performance as well as describe their methodology, technology, and how their solution addresses the Challenge criteria.

Participants can enter into this phase without having entered the previous phase. Up to 10 winners of Phase 2 will be each awarded US$250,000 and will be eligible to compete in Phase 3.

Phase 2 Submissions will be required to address how the solution meets the solution requirements for the Target Area, provide detailed information about experimental results, and provide a description of the methodologies used, including frameworks used to ensure appropriate animal protections for any animal experiments included in the submission. Submissions must include data from studies that demonstrate delivery and editing performance.

Participants may register for and compete in this Challenge in one of two ways: either as a Team (i.e., registering as a group of individuals competing together but not on behalf of an established organization, institution, or corporation), or as an Entity (i.e., registering as a group of individuals competing together on behalf of a legally established organization, institution, or corporation).