Investigator Program

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York (CZ Biohub NY) fosters collaboration among scientists from Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, and Yale University. Our mission is to harness and bioengineer immune cells for the early detection, prevention, and treatment of a broad spectrum of age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and aggressive cancers.

The Investigator Award Program is designed to identify and support visionary scientists by providing them with unrestricted funding to pursue their most innovative and high-impact research projects that align with the mission of CZ Biohub NY. Awardees will become part of our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive research community, gaining access to cutting-edge tools, expertise, and training opportunities. The focus of their research will be on deciphering the molecular language of immune cells, enabling these cells to be deployed for disease detection, prevention, and treatment.

For more information, check out our FAQ about the award.

The CZ Biohub NY Investigator Program aims to:

• Empower High-Risk, High-Reward Research: Support groundbreaking research projects that are not currently funded through traditional academic channels but have the potential to significantly advance our understanding of immune cell biology and disease.
• Build a Collaborative Research Community: Foster and sustain an engaged, interactive, and collaborative community of researchers across relevant scientific disciplines and institutions, facilitated through regular Biohub Investigator meetings, workshops, and events.
• Accelerate the Pace of Scientific Discovery: Ensure rapid dissemination of research findings by uploading all manuscripts, where the investigator is the corresponding author, to preprint servers such as bioRxiv.org or arXiv.org. Additionally, make all relevant data accessible to the research community upon submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

This RFP is open to a broad field of investigation covering studies of the immune system consistent with the broad objectives of the CZ Biohub NY. For instance, these may include:

1. elucidation and development of genetic (or pharmacologic) control of mechanisms underlying immune cell organ tropism and tissue residency,
2. engineering of immune cells capable of detecting and/or recording specific signals from the organs they encounter, including in time-dependent fashion,
3. engineering T-cell receptors (TCRs) responsive to novel antigens, for instance to detect the presence of “cold” (i.e., sub-immunogenic) tumors or neurodegenerative diseases, and to couple them with cell-intrinsic mechanisms not necessarily aimed at inducing antigen-mediated cell death,
4. developing novel mechanisms providing non-invasive readout of immune cell state, and
5. elucidating the cell-cell communication processes that support the ability of immune cells to work in concert as a complex system.

These are just examples of potential topics of interest and potential investigators should refer to the accompanying document describing the overarching goals of the CZ Biohub NY to identify additional areas of potential interest.

Selected investigators will receive:

• Flexible Funding: Each investigator award will be funded at $200,000 per year in direct costs for three years awarded as gift funds to their respective institutions and will include an additional eight percent for indirect costs ($217,391.30/yr for a total award of $652,173.90).
  • Awards may be renewable to five years at the same funding level contingent on satisfactory progress and reporting to be determined by the end of year three.
  • Funds are dispersed as unrestricted gift funds to respective institutions. Funds are intended to be used toward salary support and operational costs to support the project including consumables, core facilities access, materials towards the research, and other costs related to the project. It is recommended that no more than 10 percent of the total budget is directed towards capital expense equipment.
• Research Freedom: The flexibility to pursue innovative research directions without the constraints typically associated with traditional grant funding.
• Access to Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network Resources: Opportunities to collaborate with other CZ Biohub NY investigators, access to cutting-edge technologies, and participation in CZ Biohub NY events and workshops. Investigators will also have the opportunity to engage with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network.
• Collaborative Environment: A supportive community of like-minded scientists dedicated to pushing the boundaries of biomedical research.

Eligible Investigators must:

• Hold a faculty position at one of CZ Biohub NY’s partnering institutions (Columbia University, The Rockefeller University, or Yale University).
• Submit only one application per Request for Proposals (RFP) cycle.
• Not currently hold an active CZ Biohub NY Investigator Award at the time the new awards are funded (please refer to key dates below).
• Commit to attending at least 50% of Investigator meetings which are held twice monthly, in person.
• Provide an annual report summarizing research output and impact for each year the award is active.

The Chan Zuckerberg Biohub New York uses SurveyMonkey Apply as its grants management portal. All applications must be submitted through this portal (https://apply.chanzuckerberg.com). SMApply is configured to work best using the Google Chrome browser. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this portal well in advance of any deadlines. Deadline extensions will not be granted.

The application includes the following required materials:

• Title and summary of the proposed research (maximum 120 words)
• 3-page proposal (minimum 0.5” margins, 10 pt font or larger; sans serif fonts allowed), inclusive of all figures and references, which outlines risky and innovative research they wish to pursue. This should include:
  • Introduction/Rationale
  • Proposed Research Plan (pilot data is not required for this award opportunity)
  • Potential for Impact
  • Optional: Link(s) to ongoing work with CZ Biohub NY
• CV (2 pages) or NIH-style biosketch, whichever is most readily available.
• Bibliography of major papers (1 page)
• Three most significant papers (PDF format)
• Signed statement of support from their division or department chair confirming that the applicant has the space, resources, and support necessary for the proposed research program.

• Application portal opens: 8:00 a.m. ET on October 9, 2024
• Information session: 1:30 p.m. ET on October 31, 2024 Registration is required to attend.
• Proposal submissions due: 11:59 p.m. ET on December 18, 2024
• Award notification: February 2025
• Award period and start date: Awards will be three years (36 months) in duration with an expected start date of April 2025.

A live information session on the Investigator Awards will be held online at 1:30 p.m. ET on October 31, 2024. Please register here to receive sign-in information.

For administrative and programmatic inquiries regarding this RFP, please contact us in advance of the proposal deadline at awards@ny.czbiohub.org.