AstraZeneca Challenge: Automating Drug Administration and Removal in Multiwell Plates

The process of drug discovery relies heavily on predicting clinical responses to drugs based on in vitro cell culture. With advances over the past decade, researchers are increasingly able to recapitulate the physiology of intact tissues within cell cultures. When compounds are tested, however, drug exposure essentially remains static and doesn’t reflect the in vivo pharmacokinetic variations and resulting pharmacodynamics of drugs administered in the clinic. AstraZeneca wishes to increase the translational predictability of in vitro screening and seeks an automated system for transient administration and washout of drugs to cells grown in multiwell plates. 

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge; the Solver will only need to submit a written proposal to be evaluated by the Seeker with the goal of establishing an AstraZeneca funded collaborative partnership

Advances in co-cultures, tissue engineering, microfluidics, and artificial organ systems have allowed researchers to create predictive models for assessing drug efficacy and safety in vitro. As these models become more sophisticated, researchers are equipped to generate microenvironments that closely approximate human physiology. Drug pharmacokinetics determines the duration and level of exposure within the body and this aspect is not modeled accurately in vitro. Therefore AstraZeneca seeks a system compatible with multiwell plates that automates the time-dependent changes in drug concentration that define dynamic pharmacokinetics. 

ABOUT THE SEEKER

AstraZeneca is a global, research-based, biopharmaceutical company with a focus on five key therapeutic areas: 1) cardiovascular & metabolic diseases, 2) oncology, 3) respiratory, inflammation & autoimmunity, 4) neuroscience, and 5) infection. As an innovation-driven, research organization, AstraZeneca recognizes that great ideas come from many sources. Open innovation is an avenue by which ideas can be shared and AstraZeneca recently launched a pavilion to further its commitment to facilitate the advancement of pharmaceutical research. 

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on October 16, 2015. Late submissions will not be considered. 

This is an electronic Request-for-Partners (eRFP) Challenge. The Solver will write a preliminary proposal (including supporting non-confidential information and contact details) to be evaluated by the Seeker with a goal of establishing a collaborative partnership. Upon completion of the evaluation, AstraZeneca may contact selected Solvers directly to work out terms for a collaboration contract. The monetary value of the contract will vary depending on the amount of work to be delivered and the agreed upon time frame. 

[NOTE: Only proposals from Solvers who have the ability to work as the collaboration partner will be considered.]