• Applications should be for an academic-led gene therapy project requiring manufacturing services that can be provided by one of the Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies.
• Applications may involve a collaboration with other academic partners or industry. Any non-academic partners must provide identifiable project support and appropriate collaboration agreements or heads of terms should be in place.
• The project must fit within the scope of LifeArc’s Rare Disease Translational Challenge, and so the must address a significant, unmet healthcare need for a rare disease or condition.
• The project must have a strong scientific rationale, be target-driven, with a credible delivery plan and milestones, and have a clear route to patients. It must be at an appropriate stage of development to benefit from the expertise of the Innovation Hubs, i.e., be suitably advanced to justify expert manufacture services.
• We encourage applications that include co-funding from other LifeArc funds, other funders, or medical research charities.
• The funding is philanthropic and LifeArc does not ask for any return on revenue, or a share of intellectual property. The academic lead must demonstrate access to required background IP and freedom to operate for the therapy to be developed.
• Lead applicants may only submit one application per round.

Pre-application
You are welcome to contact us before submitting your preliminary application to ensure your project is in scope and discuss any matters such as co-funding. Please contact the Fund managers Kieran Hudson or Joanna Davidge.

Stage 1: Preliminary application and Hub allocation
Preliminary applications can be submitted at any time and are reviewed 2-3 times per year. LifeArc will review preliminary applications to ensure they are eligible for the Fund. The project will be matched to an Innovation Hub with appropriate capabilities and capacity by the Allocation Panel.

Stage 2: Develop and submit full application
LifeArc and the allocated Innovation Hub will work with the applicants to address any identified gaps before submitting a full application. In a process that will be tailored to the needs of the respective application, we will assist you to expand and refine the proposal in preparation for your submission. Full applications are reviewed twice per year, with March and September deadlines.

Stage 3: Due diligence
Once the full proposal is submitted, LifeArc will conduct due diligence on the information provided and gain external peer review. Comments will be shared with applicants who will be able to submit responses before the proposal is assessed at panel.

Stage 4: Peer review and funding decision
The funding panel will consider the submitted application, diligence, peer review, and applicant responses and make the final decision. The panel makes these project decisions twice a year, usually in June and December.

Stage 5: Funding agreement
If the panel agrees to fund the project, LifeArc will formalise the funding agreements and project milestones. If a proposal is declined, feedback will be provided for every application.

Stage 6: Milestone reports
On award, a reporting schedule will be agreed with the awardee. LifeArc and the Hub will monitor progress and will be available for support and advice where appropriate.

Stage 7: Project end and final report
The results of the project are reviewed, and the next steps discussed with the network of Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapy and LifeArc.