Status report

• Program initiated in May 2009
• 7 rounds of applications so far
• approx. 600 applications received
• 77 grant applications accepted (13%)
• International participation
  (approx. 1/3 Germany; 1/3 Europe (excl. Germany); 1/3 USA and Asia)
• Two submission rounds per year
• Submission deadlines: March 31 and September 30

Publications:
Lessl M, Schoepe S, Sommer A, Schneider M, Asadullah K (April 2011)
Grants4Targets - an innovative approach to translate ideas from basic research into novel drugs. Drug Discov. Today, Volume 16, Issues 7-8, Pages 288-292

Abstract: Collaborations between industry and academia are steadily gaining importance. To combine expertise Bayer HealthCare has set up a novel open innovation approach called Grants4Targets. Ideas on novel drug targets can easily be submitted on our website (see www.grants4targets.com). After a review process, grants are provided to perform focused experiments to further validate the proposed targets. In addition to financial support specific know-how on target validation and drug discovery is provided. Experienced Bayer HealthCare scientists are nominated as project partners and, depending on the project, tools or specific models are provided. According to our experience, this type of bridging fund combined with joint efforts provides a valuable tool to foster drug discovery collaborations.

Lessl M, Bryans JS, Richards D, Asadullah K (April 2011)
Crowd sourcing in drug discovery. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, Volume 10, Issue 4, Pages 241-242.

Gashaw I, Ellinghaus P, Sommer A, Asadullah K (Dec 2011)
What makes a good drug target? Drug Discov. Today, Volume 16, Issue 23-24, Pages 1037-1043.