Pitching Critical Assessment for Therapeutic Protein Design (CAT-PD) QuickFire Challenge Grant

Pitching Critical Assessment for Therapeutic Protein Design (CAT-PD) QuickFire Challenge Grant is sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

* Our approach-QuickFire-Challenge) * Focus-QuickFire-Challenge) * How we partner-QuickFire-Challenge) * Our team-QuickFire-Challenge) * Innovation Challenges-QuickFire-Challenge) * News & events-QuickFire-Challenge) # Pitching Critical Assessment for Therapeutic Protein Design (CAT-PD) QuickFire Challenge Discovery Product Development & Supply Overview-QuickFire-Challenge#overview)Why this challenge matters to us-QuickFire-Challenge#why-this-challenge-matters-to-us)What we’re looking for-QuickFire-Challenge#what-we%E2%80%99re-looking-for)Criteria-QuickFire-Challenge#criteria)Awards-QuickFire-Challenge#awards)Timeline-QuickFire-Challenge#timeline)About Johnson & Johnson-QuickFire-Challenge#about-johnson-&-johnson) To help advance drug discovery using _in silico_ approaches, Johnson & Johnson launched the **Pitching****Critical Assessment for Therapeutic Protein Design (CAT-PD) QuickFire Challenge**.

Innovators worldwide are invited to submit their potentially transformative computational techniques aimed at designing antibody sequences _de novo_ against “hard-to-drug” targets. Selected applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their models/technologies during a closed-door presentation to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine R&D leadership in San Francisco during the week of January 11-15, 2026.

* Finalists may also be given the opportunity to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson in a closed-door challenge aimed at designing antibody sequences against a “hard-to-drug" target(s). Further details of this opportunity, which will be completely voluntary, will be shared with finalists. _*Subject to terms and conditions of applicable QuickFire Challenge.

No travel costs will be reimbursed for applicants to attend the closed-door presentation opportunity in San Francisco. _ 1 Mouchlis VD, et al. Advances in de Novo Drug Design: From Conventional to Machine Learning Methods.

_Int J Mol Sci. _ 2021 Feb 7;22(4):1676. doi:10.

3390/ijms22041676. 2 Cao, L, et al. Design of protein-binding proteins from the target structure alone.

_Nature_ 605, 551–560 (2022). https://doi. org/10.

1038/s41586-022-04654-9. 3 Watson, JL, et al. De novo design of protein structure and function with RFdiffusion.

_Nature_ 620, 1089–1100 (2023). https://doi. org/10.

1038/s41586-023-06415-8. 4 Krishna, R, et al. Generalized biomolecular modeling and design with RoseTTAFold All-Atom.

_Science_ 384, eadl2528(2024). DOI:10. 1126/science.

adl2528. 5 Abramson, J, et al. Accurate structure prediction of biomolecular interactions with AlphaFold 3.

_Nature_ 630, 493–500 (2024). https://doi. org/10.

1038/s41586-024-07487-w. 6 Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Press Release: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024.

9 October 2024. Accessed:https://www. nobelprize.

org/prizes/chemistry/2024/press-release/. 7 Kortemme, T. _De novo_ protein design—From new structures to programmable functions.

_Cell_, Volume 187,Issue 3, 526-544. https://www. cell.

com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)01402-201402-2). ## Why this challenge matters to us As a company driven by innovation, Johnson and Johnson is actively exploring emerging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) techniques to help advance drug discovery and development.

Building on this commitment, we see incredible advances being made in this field and aim to test the value these _in silico_ tools and techniques can deliver for human health. ## What we’re looking for Innovators around the world are invited to submit their novel technologies and/or techniques with sufficient detail to determine the potential to generate _de novo_ designed sequences against a target of interest.

Specific areas of interest include: * AI/ML models with the ability to predict and/or generate antigen-antibody binding interactions against a targeted epitope Technologies that are **not** in scope for this challenge include: * Platform capabilities wholly focused on small-molecule, peptide, or mini-protein-based modalities Potential solutions will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers on their ability to meet the following criteria: * Capability of validation/demonstration in the area of _de novo_ protein design * Case studies to validate feasibility or at least to suggest technology can extend to real-world use cases * Potential novelty and differentiation of approach based on benchmarking to public examples * Team quality and capabilities Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by a team of J&J and NVIDIA experts.

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their models/technologies during a closed-door presentation to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine R&D leadership in San Francisco during the week of January 11-15, 2026. * Finalists may also be given the opportunity to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson in a closed-door challenge aimed at designing antibody sequences against a “hard-to-drug" target(s).

Further details of this opportunity, which will be completely voluntary, will be shared with finalists. _*Subject to terms and conditions of applicable QuickFire Challenge. No travel costs will be reimbursed for applicants to attend the closed-door presentation opportunity in San Francisco.

_ Pitch Selection Notification Pitch Opportunity in San Francisco ## About Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson works across the innovative medicine and medical technology sectors to accelerate early-stage, transformational solutions by catalyzing the best ideas, wherever they are in the world.

We do this by harnessing our deep scientific capabilities coupled with a wide range of tools, including customized deal structures, company creation, incubation and startup services, capital investments and other innovative business models that aim to meet the diverse needs of entrepreneurs, scientists, and emerging companies.

Our goal is to help life science and health technology innovations thrive through collaboration and partnership with the global ecosystem, so that together we can change the trajectory of human health. Meet our passionate team of science and technology experts and learn how to collaborate with us atwww. jnjinnovation.

com. Where do I need to be located to apply? Applications will be accepted from innovators around the world.

Is there a monetary award for this QuickFire Challenge? No monetary award will be available for this challenge. This is an opportunity to showcase your innovation to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine R&D leaders.

Finalists may also be given the opportunity to collaborate with Johnson & Johnson in a closed-door challenge aimed at designing antibody sequences against a “hard-to-drug" target(s). Further details of this opportunity, which will be completely voluntary, will be shared with finalists. What if I’m having trouble accessing the portal/website?

Is it okay if some of the information I submit is confidential? No. Please do not submit confidential information. Only non-confidential information should be submitted and anything you submit will be treated as non-confidential.

Can I submit supporting documents (for example a video) as part of my application? You will have the opportunity and are encouraged to upload supporting materials such as slide decks, research papers, and videos as part of your application. What happens with IP (Intellectual Property)?

This is a no-strings-attached arrangement, Johnson & Johnson does not acquire any IP. Any IP creation and/or protection remains the sole responsibility of the inventors. Which stage of innovation are you interested in?

We are interested in tangible innovations at a variety of stages – including ideation, prototyping, piloting, and commercial launches. Submissions should align with our focus areas and not be limited to academic research projects. What are the specific criteria for application?

Potential solutions will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers on their ability to meet the following criteria: * Capability of validation/demonstration in the area of _de novo_ protein design * Case studies to validate feasibility or at least to suggest technology can extend to real-world use cases * Potential novelty and differentiation of approach based on benchmarking to public examples * Team quality and capabilities Whom can I contact if I have questions about the Challenge or the application process?

Please contactjlabsapplication@its. jnj. com with any questions.

Where do I apply? And do I have to complete the application in one sitting? You can setup an account athttps://jnjinnovation.

com/login. You can save your work and log back in to finish later if needed. What types of ideas are you interested in?

Submissions should have sufficient detail to determine the potential to generate _de novo_ designed sequences against a target of interest. While ideas can be early stage, we are not looking for research projects**that are not pursuing**viable potential solutions.

Technologies that are **not** in scope for this challenge include: * Platform capabilities wholly focused on small-molecule, peptide, or mini-protein-based modalities Other challenges you may be interested in Immunology-QuickFire-Challenge) Expanding Access to Immunology Clinical Trials QuickFire Challenge For innovation to transform health outcomes for people around the world, new treatments, devices, and technologies must be accessible, inclusive, and designed with the needs of patients and communities in mind.

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