Application Information
The Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale
The Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Yale (CCAY) requests project proposals to advance innovative translational research in autoimmune and allergic diseases, including but not limited to: discovery and development of therapeutics, diagnostics, and tolerogenic vaccines; investigations to elucidate biological mechanisms of complex immunological and allergic diseases; and development of platform technologies to facilitate such research. The CCAY will provide $50,000 - $100,000 for 1-year Pilot Awards, competitively renewable to Year 3, with the goal of providing seed funding for early high-risk/high-reward research with a future potential for commercialization through industry partnerships, licensing, and venture company formation. Proposals will be evaluated by CCAY's advisors from Yale Ventures' Executive-/Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program, and by CCAY’s independent Advisory Committee comprised of academic and pharmaceutical industry scientists, and life science investors, with confidentiality maintained throughout the reviewing process.
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Application Timeline
- Application Deadline: 11:59 PM, November 20 (Thursday), 2025
- Anticipated Announcement of Awards: May 1, 2026
- Funding Start Date: July 1, 2026
Who is eligible?
All Yale faculty (assistant, associate and full professors, and non-ladder research track) are eligible to submit proposals. Multi-PI applications, including applications from inter-disciplinary group of investigators, are encouraged. Postdoctoral fellows should engage supervisory faculty members to submit applications.
AREAS OF INTEREST
Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Discovery and development of novel therapeutics (e.g., small molecules, peptides, antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids, cell therapies, gene therapies, digital therapeutics); or breakthrough therapeutic approaches targeting autoimmune and allergic diseases.
2. Discovery and development of diagnostics (e.g., in vitro assays/tests, imaging agents, computational algorithms), or biomarkers applicable to endotype determination or patient stratification.
3. Discovery and development of tolerogenic vaccines for autoimmune and allergic diseases.
3. Development of platform technologies that can accelerate the development of therapeutics, diagnostics, and tolerogenic vaccines.
4. Research projects to gain deeper insight into complex biological mechanisms of autoimmune and allergic diseases; and to identify and characterize novel drug targets.
Cross-disciplinary projects such as chemistry/medicinal chemistry, chemical engineering, computer science (including the use of artificial intelligence), engineering, medical devices, and materials sciences, are encouraged.
The essential component of a successful proposal is a long-term translational goal to deliver therapeutics or diagnostics with a clear plan toward clinical development and commercialization.
Contact
Please contact coltoncenter@yale.edu for any questions.