Chan Zuckerberg Initiative – Implementation of Synthetic Biology Principles in Immunology
Event details
| Date | 13.11.2025 |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Aim: Synthetic biology offers a powerful approach to program immune cells as diagnostic sentinels and precision therapeutics, minimizing off-target effects. In this context, this funding opportunity seeks to broaden participation and accelerate scientific discovery in key research areas, translating research breakthroughs into tangible health solutions.
This RFA invites applications proposing innovative strategies and methodologies that implement synthetic biology principles in the context of immunology. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
Funding: $600,000
Duration: 24 months
Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations, including public and private institutions. Teams may include a total of up to three PIs; Each application must have one Coordinating PI, but may designate up to three total PIs. Tenure track faculty are eligible, as well as Non-tenure track faculty or staff scientists who lead a lab or are engaged in academic activities and are permitted to apply for grants by their institution. Early-career investigators are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: All applications must be completed and submitted through CZI’s online grants management portal at https://apply.chanzuckerberg.com. Applications should include PI details, organization details, a proposal and budget, Biosketches for all PIs, and optional letters of commitment. Detailed application instructions are available in the RFA, as well as in the grants management portal. Decisions will be returned in late February 2026, with projects expected to begin on 1 April 2026.
Deadline: 13 November 2025 (5 p.m. ET)
Further information:
This RFA invites applications proposing innovative strategies and methodologies that implement synthetic biology principles in the context of immunology. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Engineering immune cells with enhanced specificity, functionality, and controllability, including improved sensing, homing, and effector capabilities.
- Designing and developing synthetic bio-circuits to direct cell behavior, such as:
- Controlling immune cell tropism or tissue localization
- Supporting in situ detection of complex, multi-ligand patterns for the detection of emerging or pre-symptomatic diseases
- Regulating immune cell states and responses, for instance, in relation to T cell exhaustion, maintenance of self-tolerance, or T cell activation thresholds
- Allowing reporting of what immune cells have detected in a non-invasive fashion
- Constructing artificial or semi-synthetic immune systems for disease modeling, mechanistic discovery, and therapeutic screening.
- Developing modular systems for immune surveillance and non-invasive reporting, allowing engineered cells to communicate what they’ve sensed or responded to in real time.
Funding: $600,000
Duration: 24 months
Eligibility: Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations, including public and private institutions. Teams may include a total of up to three PIs; Each application must have one Coordinating PI, but may designate up to three total PIs. Tenure track faculty are eligible, as well as Non-tenure track faculty or staff scientists who lead a lab or are engaged in academic activities and are permitted to apply for grants by their institution. Early-career investigators are strongly encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: All applications must be completed and submitted through CZI’s online grants management portal at https://apply.chanzuckerberg.com. Applications should include PI details, organization details, a proposal and budget, Biosketches for all PIs, and optional letters of commitment. Detailed application instructions are available in the RFA, as well as in the grants management portal. Decisions will be returned in late February 2026, with projects expected to begin on 1 April 2026.
Deadline: 13 November 2025 (5 p.m. ET)
Further information:
- More information about the program can be found here
- For help on the Institutional Approval Form, contact the Research Office
- Any other questions, including on the budget, can also be directed to the Research Office
Practical information
- General public
- Free