Cures Within Reach Launches $100,000 Grant Program for AI-Driven Drug Repurposing Clinical Trials
Key Insights
Cures Within Reach (search) has issued a request for proposals supporting Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials that validate AI-identified drug repurposing opportunities for unsolved diseases (search).
The program offers up to $100,000 in funding per trial, with preference given to rare diseases (search) and off-patent therapies supported by AI-generated preclinical evidence.
Applications are due August 25, 2025, and must test already-approved drugs or biologics identified through AI models for new therapeutic indications.
Cures Within Reach (search) (CWR) has launched a new grant program to support investigator-initiated clinical trials that validate artificial intelligence-driven drug repurposing opportunities, offering up to $100,000 per trial to accelerate the development of treatments for unsolved diseases (search).
The organization aims to leverage the speed, safety, and cost-effectiveness of repurposing—testing already approved therapies for unsolved diseases (search)—driving more treatments to more patients more quickly. The program specifically targets Phase I or Phase IIA proof-of-concept clinical trials that must include AI-generated data as part of their preclinical support package.
Eligibility and Requirements
Clinical trials eligible for funding must test already-approved therapies identified by AI models and incorporate AI-generated evidence in their preclinical support. The program accepts supporting data from any type of AI model, including those developed, owned, and controlled by nonprofit, academic, or government institutions, as well as for-profit companies with models that are either open to public use or accessible via collaboration.
Repurposed therapies must be approved or generally recognized as safe for human use by regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (search), European Medicines Agency (search), Health Canada, or Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (search). Eligible treatments include drugs, biologics, cellular or gene therapies, or combination therapies that would be tested for new indications where they are not already approved or widely used as standard of care.
Program Preferences and Scope
While CWR accepts submissions addressing any disease area, the organization has expressed preference for clinical trials targeting rare diseases (search). The program also favors off-patent therapies, though both on- and off-patent repurposed treatments are eligible for consideration.
Repurposed therapies may be added to current standards of care to improve patient outcomes or quality of life, expanding the potential applications beyond standalone treatments.
Funding Structure
The program provides budgets of $100,000, which includes a required 10 percent institutional match from applicants. Additionally, CWR will provide $5,000 to $10,000 in supplementary financial support for approved community engagement costs alongside selected clinical trials.
Application Process and Timeline
Submissions are accepted from accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions or health systems significantly involved with medical research located anywhere in the world. There is no limit to the number of submissions from any single principal investigator or institution, and investigators at any career stage are eligible to apply.
Letters of intent are due August 25, 2025, at 6:59 p.m. ET. Following review, selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals. The organization has scheduled information sessions in Central Daylight Time on Thursday, July 17 (8-9 a.m. or 12-1 p.m.) and Friday, July 25 (8-9 a.m. or 12-1 p.m.) to provide additional guidance to potential applicants.