Request for Proposals - AI-Based Drug Discovery

• Funder / Sponsor: Cerebrum DAO

• Amount: USD 100,000

• Status: Accepting Application

• Closes on: December 15th, 2025

• Topics / Tags: AI, Drug Discovery, Computational Biology, DeSci

We invite researchers, teams, labs, or startups to submit proposals on AI-driven drug discovery. The goal is to fund projects that apply machine learning, computational methods, and open science principles to accelerate identification, optimization, and validation of novel therapeutic molecules.

This RFP aligns with the DeSci ethos: transparency, community feedback, reproducibility, and shared impact.

USD 100,000 for one proposal. Disbursement is milestone-based (e.g. partial upfront, partial on midpoint, final on completion).

Examples include (but are not limited to) advanced AI methods for:

• Novel small molecules or biologics

• Target identification or mechanism prediction

• Protein-ligand binding affinity prediction

• Drug repurposing

Proposals must commit to open science: sharing code, models, datasets, and transparent progress updates on ResearchHub.

• Open to individuals, academic labs, startups, and cross-disciplinary teams anywhere in the world

• Applicants should have relevant expertise in AI/ML, computational chemistry/biology, or related domains

• Preference for proposals with both computational and domain (neurodegenerative disorders) components

• Must adhere to open science/reproducibility principles

Your submission should include (preferably limited to ~5 pages):

1. Project Title & Abstract

2. Problem

3. Solution

4. Commercial Potential

5. Team & Track Record (bios, relevant prior work, links to code/publications)

6. Budget & Milestones (how funds will be used, timeline, deliverables)

In addition, you may optionally provide supplementary material (e.g. GitHub links, sample datasets, preliminary results).

• Technical merit, novelty & feasibility

• Strength and balance of the team

• Alignment with open science/community values

• Potential commercial impact and scalability

• Budget clarity and realistic milestones

Timeline

• Proposal Deadline: December 15th

• Review Period: December 16th - December 30th

• Pitches: January and February 2025

• Review and Selection: March 2025

Questions may be directed to: Michelangelo Gallia - michele@cerebrumdao.com

If you are interested in applying, please do so at this link and “Apply for funding.”

We look forward to reading your submissions!