Phenotypic Cell-based Assays for Target Identification through a Chemogenomics Library

Pfizer is seeking a detailed cataloguing of high-quality, medium- to high-throughput cell-based phenotypic screens that are relevant to human disease in the areas of: inflammation, immunology, rare diseases, oncology, metabolic disorders and neuroscience.  This challenge requires only a written proposal that catalogues a range of phenotypic screens that the Solver believes meet Pfizer’s objectives and requirements as described in the Detailed Description of the Challenge. Pfizer is not, as a part of this challenge, seeking to gain immediate access to any specific assay; rather Pfizer seeks to understand the range of relevant assays that currently exist.  Cellular screens that can be used to identify novel mechanisms or disease targets are of particular interest.   The cataloguing must be supported by a solid rationale of why these proposed phenotypic screens would be of interest to Pfizer. 

A special emphasis must be made on discussion of the relevance of the proposed in vitro assays to human disease.

Pfizer is seeking a detailed catalogue of high-quality, medium- to high-throughput cell-based phenotypic screens that are relevant to human disease in the areas of: inflammation, immunology, rare diseases, oncology, metabolic disorders and neuroscience.  Cellular screens that can be used to identify novel mechanisms or disease targets are of particular interest.   The assays should be amenable to medium- to high-throughput screening, ideally in 96-well or 364-well format. 

The cell-based phenotypic screens should be based upon a physiologically relevant cellular assay, ideally using patient-derived primary cells.  The preferred assays should demonstrate disease-relevant assay stimuli (e.g. cytokines for inflammatory disorder) with readouts that are closely linked to and predictive of clinical endpoints. 

This is an Ideation Challenge, which has the following unique features:

• There is a guaranteed award.  The awards will be paid to the best submission(s) as solely determined by the Seeker. The total payout will be $15,000, with at least one award being no smaller than $7,500 and no award being smaller than $2,500. 
• The Solvers are not required to transfer exclusive intellectual property rights to the Seeker.  Rather, by submitting a proposal, each Solver grants to the Seeker a fee-free, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide, and non-exclusive license to use any information included in the proposal for all purposes.  Each proposal is submitted by the Solver on a non-confidential basis.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on January 17, 2016.  Late submissions will not be considered. 

After the Challenge deadline, the Seeker will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the Winning Solution(s). All Solvers who submit a proposal will be notified on the status of their submissions; however, no detailed evaluation of individual submissions will be provided.