£1.2M funding available through 2022 CRACK IT Challenges competition

Funding of £1.2M is available through the 2022 CRACK IT Challenges competition* to solve two Challenges identified jointly by the NC3Rs and Sponsors. This annual competition provides UK and EU-based academics and SMEs with the opportunity to apply to develop new 3Rs tools, technologies or approaches and engage with new partners.

The 2022 Challenges encompass animal use in the key areas of endocrine disruption and CAR-T cell therapy. These Challenges have been developed in conjunction with Sponsors who will provide in-kind support and scientific expertise to help solve the Challenge. The aim of these Challenges is to deliver scientific and 3Rs benefits through the development and commercialisation of new products and services that are tailored to end-user needs.

The two Challenges are Sponsored by six organisations and supported by one Partner. Funding is provided by the NC3Rs and Sponsors will provide in-kind support throughout the Challenges.

The Challenges this year are:

Challenge 42 – T-ALERT: Animal-free tumourigenicity assessment of CAR-T and other genetically modified T cells; Sponsored by Novartis, Takeda, AstraZeneca, Sonomabio, GentiBio.

Challenge 43 – Thyroid Tox: Development of an in silico model to predict thyroid receptor mediated human endocrine disruption; Sponsored by Shell.

View the Invitation to Tender (PDF) for more information about the 2022 CRACK IT Challenges competition.