Drug Discovery Initiative Grant Program

The Drug Discovery Initiative (DDI) is a competitive grant program administered by the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF), an international nonprofit organization dedicated to funding and advancing research for neurofibromatosis (NF) and schwannomatosis. The foundation’s mission is to drive innovative scientific investigation that leads to effective treatments for NF, a group of genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. CTF has historically positioned itself as a seed funder for early-stage NF research, aiming to generate preliminary data to help researchers secure larger grants from government or industry sources. The DDI program specifically focuses on catalyzing NF drug discovery through the support of investigations into novel or repurposed therapies and validation of new NF-related drug targets. Proposals should be designed to generate pivotal data needed to rapidly advance to subsequent phases of drug development. There are two main funding tracks: early-stage testing of therapeutic compounds—including prioritization of shelved compounds with prior safety data—and validation of novel NF targets using rigorous biochemical or genetic engagement methods. The program welcomes applications that use publicly available datasets for target mining. Funding through the DDI is structured as a two-year grant with a total award amount of up to $200,000, inclusive of up to 10% indirect costs. Continued funding into the second year is contingent upon the achievement of specific, pre-approved milestones. This model emphasizes accountability and progress tracking, allowing CTF to manage its seed funding portfolio efficiently. There is no match or cost-share requirement for applicants, and awardees are encouraged to comply with CTF’s data sharing mandates, including uploading key data to the NF Data Portal within 12 months of project completion. Eligibility is inclusive of researchers with an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree, and proposals are welcomed from both academic institutions and the private sector, including applicants from outside the United States. There is no citizenship requirement. Applicants must demonstrate access to necessary research infrastructure either within their lab or via collaborations. All applicants must also have an ORCID ID and designate CTF as a trusted organization within the ORCID platform to facilitate data sharing and transparency. The DDI grant application process is a one-stage submission conducted entirely through ProposalCentral. Applicants are required to provide several components including a lay and scientific abstract, cover letter, full research proposal, milestone plan, budget justification, biographical sketch, and statements related to data sharing and patent policy. Statistical justification for study design and power calculations is required for proposals involving data analysis. Applicants are also encouraged to highlight their previous experience with open science and share past open access research outputs. Applications will be reviewed by a panel comprising external experts, patient reviewers (for lay summaries and patient impact), and statisticians. Key evaluation criteria include scientific impact, feasibility, transparency, clinical relevance, and readiness for open science. Following committee recommendations, final funding decisions are made by the CTF Board of Directors. Awards are announced approximately 6–8 weeks after submission, with selected projects starting July 1, 2026. This program represents a vital component of CTF’s broader strategy to accelerate NF drug development and foster a collaborative research ecosystem grounded in openness and patient-centered outcomes.

Focus on milestone clarity, strong rationale for compound/target selection, and alignment with open science practices.