Project Grant R41GM133272

This Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), under CFDA program 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training, provides $202,274 to Acpharis in Holliston, MA to develop an algorithm and software for predicting the structure and degrading efficiency of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). The key products to be delivered include: 1) An easy-to-use computer program that can accurately model POI-PROTAC-E3 ligase ternary complexes, 2) Methods to...

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program supports a collaborative research effort led by Emory University and the University of Illinois Chicago to design and develop peptide-based filamentous nanomaterials. The $300,000 award, effective from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2027, will leverage computational methods to systematically explore the energetics and structural designability of...

The U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a $350,000 Project Grant under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to Koliber Biosciences Inc., a woman-owned small business located in San Diego, CA. The project aims to develop an artificial intelligence-based platform for optimizing the development of peptide-based therapeutics. Specifically, the platform will focus on encoding non-canonical amino acids and cyclic peptides, demonstrating...

This federal Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Biomedical Research and Research Training Program (CFDA 93.859) provides $221,448 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop peptide catalysts for stereo- and site-selective C-C bond-forming reactions. The research aims to leverage automated fast-flow peptide synthesis and machine learning to access an untapped space for peptide catalysts containing non-natural residues. Specific...

This Project Grant award of $175,000 from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) supports the development of a modular framework for modeling the binding of peptides and proteins to cell membranes. The key products to be delivered include: A software "mover" implemented in the Rosetta C++ codebase to predict the placement of proteins and peptides in cell membranes, an application of this mover compatible...

This Project Grant award from the National Institutes of Health's National Human Genome Research Institute provided $768,678 to Molecular Assemblies, Inc. to develop a fully enzymatic oligonucleotide synthesis cycle using engineered template-independent polymerases and a novel phosphate dNTP blocking group. The award supports the goals of the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172) to accelerate genome research and its application to human health. Specifically, the awardee will engineer...

This $252,906 National Science Foundation project grant supports the development of scalable manufacturing methods for peptide amphiphile molecules by Amphix Bio Inc. The goal is to advance a safer and more affordable alternative to recombinant proteins currently used in spinal fusion surgeries. Over 500,000 such surgeries are performed annually in the U.S. to treat back and neck pain. While peptide amphiphiles show promise for reducing biological dose needs and offering consistent outcomes,...

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) awarded a $350,000 Project Grant under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to Electronic Biosciences, Inc., a small biotechnology company in San Diego, California. The purpose of this grant is to develop and demonstrate a novel enzyme-based, single-molecule protein sequencing system. This innovative platform will leverage enzymatic processing and advanced bioinformatics to accurately sequence peptides with...

Triton Systems, Inc. received a $249,712 Project Grant award from the Department of Energy Office of Science on February 22, 2021 to develop a fast, scalable, automated, one-pot process for assembly of DNA oligonucleotides into large gene sequences. The work will be performed in Chelmsford, Massachusetts through February 21, 2022. The award is being made under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA #81.049), which supports basic research to deliver scientific discoveries and...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Cooperative Agreement award for $1,000,000 under the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program aims to advance a recombinant technology platform that will dramatically decrease the cost of manufacturing peptides. The project, awarded to Oakgrove Bio LLC, will scale up a novel microbial cell factory approach to enable more cost-effective production and purification of peptides, which have a wide range of potential applications in...