Seeking Novel Animal Models of COPD Pathophysiology

Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company, is seeking research related to novel animal models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), specifically models of type 2 COPD, asthma-COPD overlap, and COPD exacerbations. 

Approaches of Interest:

• Models capturing type 2 inflammation, neutrophilic inflammation, and emphysematous changes are sought, with impaired oxidative stress responses reproduced at the gene or protein level 
• Models should demonstrate a clear advantage over standard cigarette smoke exposure and elastase-induced models, such as more human-like pathology or a faster disease onset 
• Any species or model system with demonstrated translatability is of interest, including human-cell-reconstituted or immunodeficient mice, as well as in vitro systems such as organoids, precision-cut lung slices, and organ-on-chip platforms 
• Exacerbation models triggered by any clinically relevant stimulus are also of interest 
• Non-type 2 COPD subtypes will be considered where translatability exceeds that of conventional cigarette smoke or elastase models 

Out of Scope:

• Research without supporting data 

Developmental Stages of Interest

• Basic and preclinical research stages are within scope 
• Submissions must include model characteristics, development protocol, in vivo data, and readouts. Positive-control validation is welcomed

Submission Information

Daiichi Sankyo invites applications from both academic institutions and industry organizations and welcomes proposals based on both existing technologies or methods and novel approaches. Applicants should complete the submission form which should contain a brief, non‑confidential overview of your proposal, demonstrating how the RFP requirements are satisfied by your approach. To submit your proposal, please visit our website, register, and submit your application form under the appropriate Connect campaign 

Opportunity for Collaboration

Our client is open to a range of collaboration opportunities, with the most appropriate outcome being decided on a case-by-case basis. Example outcomes include licensing assets, project/PhD funding, and research collaborations.