CSL Research Acceleration Initiative

CSL's Research Acceleration Initiative supports early-stage biotechs and research organizations to fast-track the discovery of groundbreaking biotherapies with non-dilutive funding and access to global industry capabilities.

Overview

• Up to $400,000 USD in non-dilutive funding over 2 years
• Dedicated CSL scientific champion assigned to provide industry guidance and leverage global capabilities
• Access to CSL's global expertise, resources, and therapeutic development infrastructure
• Publication support with track record of 270+ collaborative publications since 2020
• Accelerated translation of research into new therapies

Priority Areas

Transplant & Immunology

• Novel first-in-class targets and drug concepts for immune-mediated diseases including strategies for targeting pathogenic T cell subsets, disease-driving chemokine receptors, stromal cells, senescence or inflammaging
• Multi-specific approaches enabling multiple cell types/pathways to be targeted for complex immune-mediated diseases
• Focus indications: Chronic immune-mediated rheumatologic and dermatologic diseases, rare neuro-immune disorders

Hematology

• Acute hemorrhage control and Patient Blood Management: Pro-hemostatic therapies for anti-platelet agent-associated hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage, treatments targeting hyperfibrinolysis and vascular malformation-associated bleeding
• Transformative therapies for Hemophilia A: Next generation non-AAV-based gene therapy, oral protein or nucleic acid-based treatments
• Iron metabolism: Novel treatments for iron deficiency and anemia, novel formulation approaches (oral & intramuscular iron supplementation), therapies for iron overload conditions
• Disease modifying therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms (polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis, myelodysplastic syndrome)
• Acute thrombotic conditions: Novel therapies for broad spectrum of acute thrombotic diseases including microangiopathies (TMAs; pan-treatment)

Cardiovascular & Renal

• Genetic rare renal diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for polycystic kidney disease, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease, and Alport syndrome
• Autoimmune-mediated rare renal diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for autoimmune-mediated rare glomerular diseases and ANCA-associated vasculitis
• Rare cardiovascular diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for inflammatory, autoimmune or genetic cardiomyopathies, and immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myocarditis

Oral Delivery

Technologies enabling systemic oral delivery of biologics (e.g., antibodies and other large proteins)

Immunoglobulins

• Patient Experience: High concentration/low volume formulation technologies, improved ease of administration and decreased administration time for plasma-derived products, novel routes of administration technologies
• Novel therapies for Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiency Disorders and Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Optimization of human-derived Ig products: Technologies that can optimize, supplement or replace

Business Use

New uses for CSL's existing products (contact RAI@CSL.COM.AU to discuss)

Eligibility & Requirements

• Open to early-stage biotechs and research organizations
• Research proposals must align with a CSL Therapeutic Area and specific Focus Areas listed above
• Submit non-confidential, 500-word abstract via CSL online application portal
• Applications evaluated based on innovation, therapeutic potential, and alignment with CSL focus areas

Timeline

• February 5, 2026, 1:00 PM EST: Information webinar (session 2)
• February 24, 2026: Application deadline

How to Submit

Submit enquiries, expressions of interest, and requests for application instructions contact Swapneeta Date, Vanderbilt University Assistant Director for Life Sciences Collaborations.

Submit non-confidential, 500-word abstract via the CSL online application portal by February 24, 2026

For Business Use proposals (new uses for existing CSL products) or any additional innquiries, email RAI@CSL.COM.AU to discuss before submitting.

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.