CSL Research Acceleration Initiative

CSL is a leading global biotech company that develops and delivers innovative biotherapies to help people living with life-threatening medical conditions live full lives. Their CSL Research Acceleration Initiative supports early stage biotechs and research organizations to fast-track the discovery of groundbreaking biotherapies. Successful applicants can receive up to $400,000 USD in non-dilutive funding over 2 years to advance their innovative programs. Interested researchers are invited to:

1. Attend an information webinar (choose one of two sessions) on Tuesday, 20th January 4:00PM CET (UTC+1) or Tuesday, 3 February 11:00AM CET (UTC+1) 
2. Submit enquiries, expressions of interest and requests for application instructions to Dr Meghana Patel: Meghana.patel@admin.cam.ac.uk

3. Submit a non-confidential, 500-word abstract via the CSL online application portal by 24th February 2026. The 2026 Research Acceleration Initiative will focus on research proposals that align with a CSL Therapeutic Area. 

   Specific Focus Areas:

   1. Novel first in class targets and drug concepts to treat immune mediated diseases e.g. 

   •Strategies for targeting pathogenic T cell subsets 

   •Strategies for targeting disease driving chemokine receptors 

   •Multi-specific approaches that enable multiple cell types/ pathways to be targeted to treat complex immune-mediated diseases 

   •Strategies for targeting stromal cells, senescence or inflammaging 

   Indication focus:

   •Chronic immune mediated rheumatologic and dermatologic diseases 

   •Rare neuro-immune disorders

   2. Genetic rare renal diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for polycystic kidney disease, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease and Alport syndrome 

   3. Autoimmune-mediated rare renal diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for autoimmune mediated rare glomerular diseases and ANCA-associated vasculitis 

   4. Rare cardiovascular diseases: Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for inflammatory, autoimmune or genetic cardiomyopathies; Novel targets or therapeutic candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced myocarditis

   5. Acute hemorrhage control and Patient Blood Management (PBM) 

   •Pro-hemostatic therapies for anti platelet agent-associated hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage 

   •Treatments for targeting and preventing hyperfibrinolysis- and vascular malformations-associated bleeding 

   6. Transformative therapies for Hemophilia A 

   •Next generation non-AAV-based gene therapy 

   •Oral protein or nucleic acid-based treatments 

   7. Iron metabolism 

   •Novel treatments for iron deficiency and anemia 

   •Novel formulation approaches: oral & intramuscular iron supplementation 

   •Novel therapies to treat iron overload conditions 

   •Disease modifying therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms including polycythemia vera , essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis and myelodysplastic syndrome 

   8. Acute thrombotic conditions: Novel therapies applicable to a broad spectrum of acute thrombotic diseases including microangiopathies (TMAs; pan treatment)

   9. Immunoglobulins: Patient Experience 

   •High concentration/low volume formulation technologies 

   •Improve ease of administration and decrease administration time for plasma-derived products 

   •Technologies that enable novel routes of administration for plasma-derived products

   10. Immunoglobulins: Novel Therapies for 

   •Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiency Disorders 

   •Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency 

   11. Optimization of human-derived Ig products: Technologies that can optimize, supplement or replace human derived products

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