Challenges

We partner with open innovation pioneer InnoCentive® to crowd-source solutions to our R&D challenges. Challenge descriptions and prizes are posted on the InnoCentive portal.

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In order to expand our problem solving ecosystem, we are openly sharing key R&D challenges and looking for ways to collaborate with anyone willing to offer innovative solutions. Our challenges span many therapeutic areas and disciplines.

Our therapy areas:

  • Cardiovascular, renal and metabolism
  • Oncology
  • Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity
  • Neuroscience

Our disciplines:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Statistics and clinical sciences.
 

How Challenges work

We partner with open innovation pioneer InnoCentive® to crowd-source solutions to our R&D challenges. Challenge descriptions and prizes posted on the InnoCentive portal.

The InnoCentive portal

 

First, Join InnoCentive as a solver and submit your solution via their website.

Submission and review

 

InnoCentive manages submitter registrations and collates solutions during the 4-12 week competition phase. InnoCentive will contact you after your proposal has been assessed.

Shortlisting and awards

 

AstraZeneca reviews and shortlists submissions and awards prizes. For prize-winning ideas, AstraZeneca is granted freedom-to-operate (non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid license, with right to sublicense without limitation).

Next steps

 

AstraZeneca can seek to collaborate with rewarded solution submitters (pending submitter interest), or proceed independently to reduce the solution to practice.

 

Current Challenges

 

Completed Challenges

  • Improving Protein Expression and Optimising Protein Purification (AWARD: $25,000 | under evaluation)
  • Effective Oral Delivery of High Molecular Weight Compounds (AWARD: $25,000 | under evaluation)
  • Digital Health Solutions for Clinical Trial Acceleration or Improved Clinical Outcomes (AWARD: varies | under evaluation)
  • In Vitro System to Assess Gastrointestinal Toxicity (AWARD: $25,000 USD  | under evaluation)
  • Robust Online In Vivo Measurement of Biomarker Concentrations (AWARD: $25,000 USD  | under evaluation)
  • Automating drug administration and removal in multiwell plates (AWARD: varies | under evaluation)
  • In vitro proximal tubule model systems (US$15,000 award granted)
  • In vitro models of glomerular function (US$15,000 award granted)
  • Retrievable device for islet transplantation (US$25,000 award granted)
  • Developing clinically-relevant models for DLBCL (US$25,000 award granted)
  • Quantitative measure of covalent binding (AWARD: US$25,000 | under evaluation)
  • A sticky problem – modeling tablet stickiness (US$10,000 award granted)
  • Pressure-sensing core for cardiac microtissues  (2 x US$12,500 awards granted)
  • Developing a minimally invasive glucose monitor    (eRFP | under evaluation)
  • Novel biomarkers for neuropathic pain  (US$25,000  not awarded)
  • Targeted delivery of oligonucleotides (2 x US$10,000 awards granted)
  • Novel disease indications for AZ clinical compounds ( 2 x US$10,000 awards granted)
  • Enhancing Therapeutic Delivery with Cell-Penetrating Peptides (AWARD: varies | DEADLINE: March 16, 2018)
  • Novel Approaches to Form and Particle Control a Crystalline Material (AWARD: varies | DEADLINE: April 16, 2018)

The AstraZeneca Open Innovation Pavilion displays all public AstraZeneca challenges.  For more information, contact InnoCentive online, or call 1-855-CROWDNOW (276-9366).