28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease

Neurodegenerative disease represents one of the defining biomedical challenges of our time. Despite decades of investment, disease-modifying therapies remain limited, underscoring the need for new approach methods (NAMs) that more faithfully capture the human biology of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia.

The 28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease is designed to assist academic researchers in their pursuit to understand the human biological underpinnings of these diseases and translate those insights into potential therapeutic strategies.

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Grant Award Scope

One winner will receive 3 CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoid 24-well plates.
One winner will receive 3 CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model 24-well plates.

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About CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids

CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids are human iPSC-derived brain organoids consisting of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, enabling mechanistic studies of neuroinflammation and neuron-microglia interactions. Functional calcium imaging, combined with imaging and omics analyses, provides a comprehensive, quantitative assessment of inflammation-driven neural network dysfunction.

About CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model

The CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model build on CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids by providing pre-qualified amyloid beta and a validated protocol to model Alzheimer’s disease-relevant pathology. This standardized offering enables reproducible investigation of amyloid-driven phenotypes and therapeutic efficacy across experiments.

CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model and CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoid products are currently under development and will be available for shipment in June 2026.

This program is intended to:

• Accelerate disease modeling with human neural technologies
• Allow disease mechanism investigation
• Reduce variability associated with in-house differentiation
• Enable high-quality preliminary data generation for future funding

Key Milestones

March 2, 2026 – Abstract submissions open
April 13, 2026 (11:59:59 pm ET) – Abstract submissions close
May 7, 2026 – Winners announced via 28bioNEWS

Application Requirements

Applications must include a 300-word abstract outlining:

• Scientific rationale
• Specific aims
• Proposed use of CNS-3D organoids
• Anticipated impact on neurodegenerative disease research

‍Apply Now

By applying to the 28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease, you agree to the terms and conditions of the program.

FAQs

‍Who is eligible to apply?
‍The 28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease is only for PI’s and postdocs at an accredited academic institution.

‍Are current 28bio customers eligible?
‍Sorry. Current 28bio customers are not eligible.

‍Can international researchers apply?
‍Yes, we welcome researchers from the United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, or Switzerland to apply.

‍How many applications can one lab submit?
‍One application per lab can be submitted.

‍What exactly does the grant award include?
‍CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model will include CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids, pre-qualified amyloid beta, and validated protocol.
CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids consist of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. The winner will receive CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoids and a validated protocol.
All shipping fees will be covered by 28bio, and local applicable taxes are the responsibility of the recipient.

‍How are winners selected?
‍Winners are selected by 28bio based on scientific merit.

‍How are the organoids shipped?
‍CNS-3D Organoids are shipped live with a patented hibernation system and arrive assay-ready.

‍Is technical support provided?
‍Yes, each winner will received onboarding training.

Additional FAQs can be found here.

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28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease Terms and Conditions

‍Eligibility
‍Employment: Grant applicant must be a PI or postdoc actively employed or enrolled at an institution in a role in which they perform cell biology research. Applicants are subject to certain further eligibility requirements set forth below.

Customer status
Applicant must not be a current user of 28bio CNS-3D or PNS-3D Organoids at their lab of employment.

‍Location
‍Product will only be shipped to the United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, or Switzerland.

‍Grant Award Scope
One winner will receive 3 CNS-3D Inflammatory Organoid 24-well plates.
One winner will receive 3 CNS-3D Induced Alzheimer’s Model 24-well plates.

‍Publication of Project Results
Upon completing the research project, the grant winner agrees to participate in at least one of the following activities with 28bio relating to the data generated using the grant equipment and organoids: joint poster presentation, case study, blog post, or webinar.
The grant winner agrees that 28bio will have the right to publicly announce the grant winner’s name and research project focus, and use anonymized data generated as part of the grant program for marketing material.

‍Intellectual Property
Ownership of the pre-existing underlying intellectual property of the applicant remains the property of the applicant, subject to 28bio’s rights to reprint, display, reproduce, perform, use, and exhibit the application and any results for the purpose of administering and promoting the program and for 28bio’s marketing and advertising purposes.
Applicant hereby warrants that any application and other materials and information provided by applicant, and any results, are original and do not infringe upon the intellectual property, or other rights of any person or entity.
By submitting the application, applicant acknowledges that the information provided will become non-confidential and will remain solely responsible for determining patentability or the advisability of seeking any other intellectual property protection. Any information provided by applicant that is not marked as confidential shall be considered available for purposes of public education or marketing without further consultation with the applicant.

Additional Terms & Conditions
Applications must be submitted via the online submission form between 12:00 am ET on March 2, 2026, and before 11:59:59 pm ET on April 13, 2026.
The award winner is responsible for any local tax liability (city, state, or federal) incurred by winning and accepting the award.
28bio reserves the right to select the grant winner in its sole discretion.
Employees of 28bio and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate. 28bio reserves the right to disqualify applicants who work for organizations that are direct competitors.
No substitution or transfer of the awarded prize is permitted, except as allowed by 28bio.
Grant applicants agree that 28bio may process personal data provided as part of application in accordance with 28bio privacy policies. See https://www.28bio.com/legal/privacy-policy for more information.
28bio may require the grant winner to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, a publicity release, and other appropriate legal documentation reasonably requested by 28bio.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Louisiana or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Louisiana.  Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement or the matters contemplated hereunder shall be instituted exclusively in the federal courts of the United States or the courts of the State of Louisiana in each case located in the City of New Orleans and each Party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action, or proceeding and waives any objection based on improper venue or forum non conveniens.
By applying, applicants represent that you are not prohibited by employment, law, regulation, funding source, industry code of conduct, or the policies or practices of your institution or employer from participating. This program is void wherever prohibited.

Please submit any questions about the 28bioGRANT for Neurodegenerative Disease program to grants@28bio.com.

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