What is Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation?
Established in 2010, Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) was founded on the notion that our current scientific and global health challenges are too complex for any one player in the healthcare ecosystem to solve alone. We believe that collaboration is critical to success. CTI collaborates with academic institutions and investigators to push forward great science, using the depth and breadth of the Pfizer enterprise to accelerate concepts into viable therapies with breakthrough potential for patients.
What is Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation?
Established in 2010, Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI) was founded on the notion that our current scientific and global health challenges are too complex for any one player in the healthcare ecosystem to solve alone. We believe that collaboration is critical to success. CTI collaborates with academic institutions and investigators to push forward great science, using the depth and breadth of the Pfizer enterprise to accelerate concepts into viable therapies with breakthrough potential for patients.
CTI focuses on accessing cutting-edge science and innovative discoveries aligned with Pfizer’s current core research areas of Oncology, Inflammation & Immunology, Rare Diseases, and Internal Medicine with a strategic focus on the emerging areas of Senescence, Repeat Expansion Disorders and DNA Damage Response...
Lewis Cantley, Ph.D.
Meyer Director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College, Professor of Cancer Biology in Medicine
At CTI, there is a free exchange of information and the ability to bring in expertise from all parts of the company. You’re not just collaborating with one person in a company or even one division. We really shared it all in play – and it was quite unique. I can’t say there’s been any other collaboration I’ve been a part of with that level of accessibility and openness.
How it Works
CTI pursues breakthrough science at the earliest stages. We offer industry-leading drug development expertise combined with the infrastructure of a large biopharmaceutical company in an open, collaborative environment. Once we identify promising research, we work with academic investigators to navigate the challenges inherent in early translational science through hands-on support from subject matter experts across Pfizer and through our network in the broader life science community. Our most successful, enduring relationships rely on close collaboration between scientists. CTI assigns a scientific champion for each investigator and project, who understands and manages the project needs, and coordinates access to Pfizer’s global capabilities and scale to deliver optimal outcomes.
This is an exciting moment in R&D as the opportunity for scientific and medical advancement may never have been greater. CTI’s collaborative model deploys Pfizer R&D resources where breakthrough science is happening at the earliest stages, leveraging the full Pfizer enterprise to translate therapeutic hypotheses from academic collaborators into viable therapeutics. Building and expanding upon our visionary model for translational research, we have built a network of ongoing relationships with dozens of top-tier academic institutions globally.

In order to create equitable collaborations and streamline program research starts, CTI has established a model “Participation Agreement” under which CTI research programs with an academic institution sit and are pre-negotiated with each institution to expedite program commencement. Developed in conjunction with our early academic collaborators, all of our partner academic institutions have reviewed and signed on to our Participation Agreement. Projects are executed via Statements of Work that are governed by the Participation Agreement. If a Participation Agreement is not in place with your institution, CTI has several other contracting mechanisms to bring collaborative programs in.
Projects usually commence when a PI proposes a target that is ripe for mounting a drug discovery effort, and then progress collaboratively towards and into the clinic. To date, CTI has progressed 7 drug candidates to the clinic, of which 3 are in Phase II and 3 are in Phase I.
Weining Lu, MD,
Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center
CTI embodies the first-of-its-kind industry and academia collaboration model. Working with CTI, I’ve learned significantly more in terms of drug development. I have worked closely with CTI scientists, who have come to my office and helped map out next steps together from the very first step of proposal submission. This collaboration continues to be one of the best in my career.
Areas of Interest
Our Collaborators
Our Collaborators
Building and expanding on our visionary model for early translational research CTI has built an ever-evolving global network of ongoing relationships with dozens of academic medical centers and investigators. We work uniquely with academic investigators to navigate the challenges inherent in early translational science through hands-on support from industry experts across Pfizer. Our collaborators represent notable academic institutions where pioneering principal investigators (PIs) with promising potential drug programs are based. Most of our collaborating institutions are based near our CTI labs in Cambridge, MA, New York City, San Francisco and San Diego, however we also have successful collaborations with other institutions across the US and across the globe.
















Jeffrey Bluestone, Ph.D.,
A.W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor of Metabolism and Endocrinology and Director of the Hormone Research Institute in the Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco
Sometimes a project might not move forward – for any number of different reasons such as scientific or non-scientific concerns, but the project remains a promising idea and potentially viable, and the PI wishes to continue to explore, generating data that might be attractive to others, including Pfizer, down the road. So what makes CTI unique is that everyone wants to make sure that the investigator who was putting their heart and soul into the project is left with enabling tools to continue to advance the project. That is one of the main reasons I’ve continued to stay engaged with CTI over so many years, the relationship is really a partnership.
Submit a Proposal
Pfizer is seeking proposals for the advancement of therapeutics in the following rare renal disorders: Polycystic Kidney Disease, Alport Syndrome, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis & IgA Nephropathy
Open for Submissions: April 25th - June 13th, 2022
Submissions invited for novel target concepts and therapeutic strategies to slow renal decline. Examples of potential mechanisms for diseases of interest include:
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
- Targeting glomerular filtration barrier component and cells such as the podocyte
- Slowing glomerulosclerosis
- Parietal epithelial cell modulation
Alport Syndrome (X-linked Autosomal Dominant)
- Collagen replacement or re-expression
- Pathways linked to genetic modifiers of renal decline
- Basement membrane and cell matrix dynamics
IgA Nephropathy
- Mechanisms to reduce IgA deposition or reduce abnormal IgA glycosylation
- Mesangial cell response
Polycystic Kidney Disease (Autosomal Dominant and Autosomal Recessive)
- Reduction of cyst size, growth, & formation
- Cilia formation and function
- Macrophages and tissue resident immunity
- DNA damage response
Technologies and Enabling Infrastructure:
- Small molecules, bio-therapeutics, gene therapy
- Nanoparticle delivery to the kidney and kidney specific compartments and cell types
- RNA elements driving renal specific expression
- AAV Tropism specific to kidney
Out of Scope:
- Cell-based therapies, broad hemodynamic modifiers, complement inhibitors
- Standalone biomarker assays/platforms, medical devices
- Mechanisms specifically targeting non-renal manifestation of disease
- Drug repurposing
Instructions for Submission:
Before submitting your proposal directly to the portal, please connect with a Pfizer representative for review. When ready to submit on the portal, please click the Register/Log In button on the top right of the screen. Log in using your user ID and password.
If you have not logged in before, select Request an Account complete the information required, and a member of our team will verify your details and provide access to the system. Once logged in, you will have access to the Pre-proposal Dashboard where you can create and monitor the status of submitted pre-proposals.
Please note that investigators must use the approved Pre-proposal Template that can be downloaded here. Once the Investigator has finalized the application, click Create a New Pre-proposal. Fill in all the fields on the page, then attach the completed template at the top of the screen, and select “submit”. If you forgot your password, please select Reset password and an email will be sent to you.
If your institution is not listed or need help connecting with a Pfizer representative, please contact us at [email protected].
Meet the Leadership

Uwe Schoenbeck
Chief Scientific Officer
As Head of Pfizer’s Emerging Sciences & Innovation (ES&I) organization and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) for CTI, Uwe is responsible for setting the scientific priorities for CTI and driving a strategy of pursuit of breakthrough science through innovative partnerships aligned with Pfizer’s Worldwide Research, Development & Medical goals.
Learn more

Sam O’Connor
Head, ES&I Business & Operations
As Head of Business and Operations for ES&I, Sam is responsible for defining and implementing the operational processes, and portfolio and alliance management practices to support the Emerging Sciences & Innovation business and research strategy which includes CTI.
Learn more

David Shields
Head, CTI
As Head of CTI labs, David leads the scientific teams based in CTI Boston (Cambridge, MA), New York City, South San Francisco, and San Diego and is responsible for the programs these labs lead in partnership with the academic and biotech communities.
Learn more
FAQs
CTI uniquely works with academic investigators to navigate the challenges inherent in early translational science through hands-on support from subject matter experts across Pfizer. We offer industry-leading drug development expertise combined with the infrastructure of a large biopharmaceutical company in an open, collaborative environment. Our most successful, enduring partnerships rely on close collaboration between scientists. For example:
- Our joint project teams create focused research plans based on agreed-upon scientific goals and deliverables, supported by complementary expertise of the investigator and Pfizer researchers throughout the length of the project.
- We offer the opportunity to work alongside our researchers in our labs in New York, California (San Francisco and San Diego) and Cambridge, MA to nurture joint decision-making, learning opportunities and relationship-building.
- CTI assigns a scientific champion for each investigator and project, who understands and manages the project needs, and coordinates access to Pfizer’s global resources, expertise and capabilities to deliver optimal outcomes. Our scientists actively engage from project conception to exit, ensuring hands-on support and transparent decision-making.
CTI takes a staged approach to collaboration to alleviate as much of the burden on the academic institution and investigator as possible. The first stage of the process is for a potential collaborator to discuss their potential idea with a Pfizer representative. Once reviewed investigators should submit a brief, two to three page non-confidential pre-proposal to CTI via our portal. Please note that investigators must use the approved Pre-proposal Template.
Pre-proposals pass through an initial triage phase to determine whether they are aligned with CTI’s areas of interest. Those that pass this triage are reviewed by a cross-functional committee represented by experts from across Pfizer’s Research Units and Partner Lines, such as Drug Safety, Chemistry, and BioMedicine Design. This committee will assess the feasibility of mounting a drug discovery program in the proposed research area, working with the relevant academic institution to determine which pre-proposals will progress to full proposal drafting.
Read more about what Pfizer's Chemistry and BioMedicine Design teams look for when evaluating pre-proposals.
Are you a Principal Investigator?
Contact your institution’s business or Tech Transfer Office (TTO) to find out if your institution is part of the CTI network. If so, they will be able to help you submit a pre-proposal for review. If your institution is not a part of the CTI network, please contact us at [email protected].
Are you in the business office / TTO of an academic institution?
In order to submit a proposal on the CTI website please click Register / Log In on the top right of the screen. Log in using your user ID and password.
If you have not logged in before, select Request an Account, complete the information required, and a member of our team will verify your details and provide access to the system. Once logged in, you will have access to the Pre-proposal Dashboard where you can create and monitor the status of submitted pre-proposals.
Please note that investigators must use the approved Pre-proposal Template that can be downloaded from the Pre-proposal Dashboard. Once the Investigator has finalized the application, click Create a New Pre-proposal. Fill in all the fields on the page, then attach the completed template at the top of the screen, and select “submit”. If you forgot your password, please select Reset password and an email will be sent to you.
Non-confidential pre-proposals must be submitted through your business / Tech Transfer Office (TTO) representative who will submit to the CTI portal on your behalf. If your TTO is unable to submit in this way, please ask them to contact us at [email protected]. If you are unable to reach your TTO, please contact us at [email protected]
Funding:
- CTI provides funding for joint research plans to support the activities being conducted in the PI’s lab. Research progression is tied to clear pre-defined go/no-go criteria at each stage, rather than a pre-defined length of time or a pre-defined amount of funding.
Intellectual Property:
- Each party retains ownership of the background IP it brings to the research program
- Each party grants to the other a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable license to use its background IP for the purposes of performing the research program
- Pfizer has the option to acquire an exclusive commercial license to the collaborator’s rights in IP generated during the research program and any background IP contributed to the research program
- For programs that successfully reach certain development milestones, Pfizer may exercise its option to take an exclusive license to any developed IP and background IP.
Confidentiality and Publications:
- During the research term, subject to customary carve-outs, neither Pfizer nor Participant may disclose the other party’s confidential information for the duration of, and for 5 years following the conclusion of, the research program. Confidential information includes a party’s background intellectual property, know-how, or other proprietary information or materials that have not been otherwise disclosed.
- Both parties have the right to publish findings from research programs. Prior to publishing, proposed disclosures must be reviewed by the other party to ensure that no confidential or patentable information is disclosed.
You do not need to have a master agreement in place to collaborate with CTI. However, please reach out to your institution’s business / Tech Transfer Office (TTO) to see if your institution has a CTI Participation Agreement. Otherwise, contact us at [email protected].
Pre-proposals pass through an initial triage phase to determine whether they are aligned with CTI’s areas of interest. Those that pass this triage are reviewed by a cross-functional committee represented by experts from across Pfizer’s Research Units and Partner Lines, such as Drug Safety, Chemistry, and BioMedicine Design. This committee will assess the feasibility of mounting a drug discovery program in the proposed research area, working with the relevant academic institution to determine which pre-proposals will progress to confidential full proposal writing.
Full proposals are co-drafted by the academic investigator and a CTI research leader. These are detailed research plans outlining the goals, activities and ‘go’/ ‘no go’ criteria for the proposed project. If accepted, the full proposal progresses to the execution of a Statement of Work and the project begins.
As with all scientific endeavors, projects may terminate for many different reasons. Should Pfizer decide not to advance jointly developed molecules, the parties can discuss alternatives for those research programs, including the possibility of licensing the IP to third parties. Academic research rights are protected within this collaboration.
Yes, there are multiple opportunities to partner with Pfizer in different ways. To learn more please visit: https://www.pfizer.com/partners.