PROOF OF PHARMACOLOGY CHALLENGE · 2026
PROOF OF PHARMACOLOGY CHALLENGE · 2026
A funded opportunity for leading GBM and DIPG clinical centers to add a Focused Ultrasound arm to an existing IND trial and help establish human proof of pharmacology for the next generation of brain cancer therapies.
Lotus Neuro is launching the POP Challenge to accelerate therapeutics for brain tumors. We're seeking clinical sites ready to integrate a FUS arm into an existing IND.
Our goal: establish human Proof of Pharmacology for therapeutic assets combined with Focused Ultrasound — starting with glioblastoma (GBM) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
We're partnering with centers that already run GBM or DIPG studies under an active IND and have the operational capacity to amend protocols, add a FUS arm, and enroll patients with the precision these indications demand.
Selected sites receive scientific and regulatory guidance, funding for the FUS arm, and membership in an elite network advancing the next generation of brain cancer treatments.
If you believe your center meets the criteria, please complete the eligibility check below.
Five "yes/no" questions confirm operational fit. Sites that clear all five are invited to submit a full proposal.
Answer on behalf of your institution. A single "no" ends the session — but you're welcome to return and re-apply when circumstances change.
Eligible centers submit four documents. Keep each tight; the review committee reads dozens of applications.
The scientific and operational case for adding a FUS arm to your existing trial.
Citations supporting the rationale and methodology in Document #1.
Itemized cost breakdown for the FUS arm — device time, staff, imaging, monitoring, regulatory.
From the biopharma collaborator providing the asset for the trial.
What is the scientific evidence to date that suggests FUS could enhance brain delivery of the specific asset?
What is the rationale to support the safety profile of asset dose + FUS?
What are the study details incorporating a FUS arm into the ongoing trial?
How will TE, PK, and/or PD be detected and measured?
How many patients are required to sufficiently power the study? What are the plans and expectations for patient access and recruitment?
What is the timeline and budget for the proposed study? What are the key logistical milestones leading up to first-patient enrollment?
The official RFP includes the complete submission timeline, evaluation criteria, and contracting framework. Review before submitting your proposal.