In Vitro Assay Models for Drug Safety and Efficacy Assessment

Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company, is seeking advanced in vitro models for drug development. The company requires models to assess immune-mediated organ toxicity for drug safety as well as efficacy evaluation models for breast and lung cancers.

Approaches of interest

• In vitro models to evaluate immune-mediated organ toxicities caused by pharmaceutical compounds (particularly immuno-oncology drugs)
• Models incorporating Microphysiological Systems (MPS) or co-culture systems with immune cells, with emphasis on vital organs like lung and heart
• Repeatable, quantitatively measurable assay models using iPSC-derived cells and patient-derived organoids for breast and lung cancer drug efficacy
• Drug-resistant models and assay systems incorporating MPS and imaging analysis techniques
• Models validated using multiple existing drugs with appropriate endpoint evaluations 

Out of scope:

• Single-use test systems for drug efficacy assessments

Developmental stage of interest: Basic research through clinical development with promising and unique technologies.

Please note: Full RFP is attached in the "More Information" section of this page. Faculty and researchers interested in applying for these opportunities based on technologies developed or disclosed at Vanderbilt must submit their proposals through the CTTC.