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1. Eligibility

The “Cyagen Trailblazer Grant Award” (“Contest”) is open to academic, industry, and non-profit research professionals globally, including graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, principal investigators (PIs), staff scientists, and R&D professionals in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries who submit a complete application form at the official CTGA Campaign webpage.

To be eligible, applicants must have published at least one article in the past two (2) years in a peer-reviewed scientific journal with an impact factor greater than 20. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age as of the date of submission.

This Contest is subject to all applicable international, federal, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited. Employees of Cyagen, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising/promotional agencies, and their immediate family members or household members are not eligible.

2. Sponsor

The Contest is sponsored by Cyagen Biosciences, headquartered at 2255 Martin Ave, Suite E, Santa Clara, CA 95050, USA (“Sponsor”). The Contest is organized and supported according to the terms outlined in these Official Rules.

3. Agreement to Rules

By participating, you agree to be fully and unconditionally bound by these Official Rules and the Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to this Contest. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any participant who violates the Official Rules or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.

4. Contest Period

The Contest begins on August 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM (PST) and ends on September 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PST) (“Entry Period”). Applications submitted outside this period will not be accepted. Award announcements are scheduled for October 16, 2025.

5. How to Enter

Applicants must complete and submit the online application form available at the official CTGA Campaign webpage. A complete entry includes:

  • Full name and contact details
  • Affiliation and job title
  • Area of disease research focus
  • Type of model needed
  • Publication Record (required): Provide the DOI or link to one peer-reviewed article (past 2 years, IF >20)
  • A brief research summary outlining the scientific rationale and innovation

Only one application per lab or project will be accepted. Incomplete or non-compliant entries will be disqualified at the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

6. Prizes

Up to 50 grant awards will be issued globally. Each award will provide 50%–100% funding coverage for the cost of developing a custom animal model using Cyagen’s services. The total award pool is up to $1,000,000 USD.

  • Grant recipients must initiate the project within 6 months of notification unless an extension is pre-approved.
  • The grant may only be applied to one model generation project, as defined in the submitted application.
  • The award cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions.
  • No cash alternative or prize substitution is permitted, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

Recipients are responsible for any taxes or fees associated with the award. Execution of a service agreement is required prior to project start.

7. Intellectual Property and Usage Terms

All models generated under the CTGA program (“Models”) are subject to the following terms:

  1. Ownership: The resulting animal models and associated technologies are jointly owned by the recipient and Sponsor.
  2. Usage Rights: The recipient is granted a 1-year exclusive usage period starting from model delivery.
  3. Non-commercial Use: Models may only be used for academic or non-commercial research purposes. No third-party transfers or commercial use is permitted without written authorization.
  4. Data Sharing: All downstream validation data produced using the Models must be shared with Cyagen and may be used by Cyagen for CRO services, publications, or promotional purposes, unless otherwise agreed.
8. Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of scientific experts appointed by the Sponsor. Proposals will be evaluated based on:

  • Scientific merit and innovation
  • Clarity of research goals
  • Fit between the proposed study and model type
  • Feasibility and timeline
  • Potential scientific or translational impact

Winners will be notified via email by October 16, 2025. Cyagen will not be responsible for undelivered messages due to spam filters or incorrect contact information. Failure to respond within 10 days may result in forfeiture.

9. Rights Granted by You

By entering, you agree that Sponsor may use your name, institutional affiliation, and submitted content for promotional and marketing purposes, including but not limited to: press releases, presentations, or web content, without further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

10. General Conditions

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Contest at any time due to technical issues, fraud, or any other cause that corrupts the administration of the Contest. Any attempts to tamper with or undermine the entry process will result in disqualification.

11. Limitation of Liability

By participating, entrants agree to release and hold harmless Cyagen and its affiliates from any and all claims arising from participation in the Contest or use of any awarded prize, including but not limited to personal injury, death, or property damage.

12. Disputes

This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of California. All disputes arising under or related to the Contest shall be resolved individually, without resort to class action, and exclusively in the state or federal courts located in California.

13. Privacy

All applicant information is confidential and will only be shared with Cyagen’s internal review panel. Submission is subject to Cyagen’s Privacy Policy.

14. Winners List

To request the list of grant recipients, contact: animal-service@cyagen.com

By submitting an entry, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Official Rules.

Unlock Innovation in Disease Model Generation

The Cyagen Trailblazer Grant Award (CTGA) is a global initiative designed to accelerate breakthroughs in biomedical research through the development of novel, high-impact custom animal models. Whether you're exploring complex disease mechanisms or validating targets for emerging therapeutics, CTGA provides the support you need to move forward—faster.

In its 2025 cycle, Cyagen will award up to $1 million USD in model generation funding to 50 research teams worldwide, spanning diverse areas of study including:

Cancer
Neurological Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Metabolic Disorders
Immunological Diseases
Rare Diseases
…and more
Submit your proposal and join a global community of innovators advancing the future of preclinical research.
Apply Now
Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from life science professionals worldwide, including:

● Principal Investigators and Lab Heads

● Postdoctoral Researchers and Graduate Students

● Academic, industry, non-profit, and translational research teams

● Scientists planning to use custom animal models for preclinical studies

Eligibility Note: Applicants must have published at least one article in the past two years in a peer-reviewed scientific journal with an impact factor greater than 20.
What You Can Receive

Each selected proposal will receive:

Grant Funding
Up to 100% coverage of Cyagen's custom model generation costs
Winners Selected
Up to 50 researchers worldwide will receive awards
Project Timeline
Model generation must begin within 6 months of award notification
IP Terms
Joint ownership of models; 1-year exclusive usage period for awardee
Eligible Services
Knockout, knockin, point mutation, humanized, transgenic models
Awards cannot be combined with other discounts, promotions, or offers.
Application Timeline
Application Opens
Application Deadline
Award Notification
August 1, 2025
September 30, 2025
October 16, 2025

Applications will be reviewed by a scientific panel on a rolling basis—submit early to increase your chances.

Why Cyagen?

Cyagen is a leading global provider of custom animal model generation services, trusted by over 7,000 institutions worldwide. Our scientific platforms empower preclinical research across a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas.

Your research may benefit from:

MouseAtlas™
An expertly curated library of over 18,000 ready-to-use KO/cKO and disease models. Looking for a custom model? We might already have it.
HUGO-GT™
Whole-genome humanized mouse platform supporting gene function discovery and translational validation.
Fast Breeding Services
Rapid cohort expansion for early-stage and IND-enabling studies.
BOGO Campaign: Buy One KO/cKO Model, Get One Free
Double your knockout research power with our limited-time offer for KO/cKO mouse models.
Research Hotspots & Case Highlights
Explore how innovative animal models are enabling cutting-edge discoveries across trending research areas. Click on a topic to see the latest data.
Neuroscience
Cancer
Aging & Degenerative Diseases
Immunology
Metabolism & Diabetes
Neuroscience
  • ● Publication: Nature
  • ● Topic: Extreme resilience to autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease
  • ● Model Used: RELN-H3447R-Tg
  • ● Highlight: Researchers reported the second known case of “extreme resilience” to autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD). The patient carried the PSEN1-E280A mutation but developed only mild cognitive impairment at age 67, despite a very high amyloid plaque burden. A rare gain-of-function variant, RELN-COLBOS, was found to enhance Dab1 activation and reduce Tau phosphorylation, suggesting that the Reelin signaling pathway can confer resistance to dementia.
Read Study Summary →
Cancer
  • ● Publication: Nature
  • ● Topic: IL-4 signaling drives immunosuppressive myelopoiesis in cancer
  • ● Model Used: Il4ra conditional knockout (S-CKO-03105)
  • ● Highlight: This study uncovered IL-4 as a key regulator of pro-tumorigenic myeloid cell development in the bone marrow, primarily secreted by basophils and eosinophils. Deletion of IL-4Rα in early myeloid progenitors reduced tumor burden in mice, whereas deletion in mature myeloid cells had no effect. A clinical trial combining IL-4Rα blockade (dupilumab) with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC patients showed promising responses, including near-complete remission in one patient.
Read Study Summary →
Explore Il4ra Model →
Aging & Degenerative Diseases
  • ● Publication: European Heart Journal
  • ● Topic: Eosinophil proteins promote vascular calcification
  • ● Model Used: Bmpr1b conditional knockout (S-CKO-01441)
  • ● Highlight: Eosinophil-derived proteins (mEar1, ECP, EDN) bind to BMPR-1A/1B receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells, activating the BMPR-1A/1B–Smad-1/5/8–Runx2 signaling pathway. This drives osteogenic differentiation and vascular calcification. In a 5,864-participant cohort from the DANCAVAS trial, eosinophil counts correlated with arterial calcification scores. Mouse models confirmed causality through knockout and adoptive transfer experiments.
Read Study Summary →
Explore Bmpr1b Model →
Immunology
  • ● Publication: Nature
  • ● Topic: Matrix-producing neutrophils protect skin integrity
  • ● Model Used: Col3a1-CKO, Rosa26LSL; CNA35-mCherry
  • ● Highlight: A newly identified population of neutrophils can produce extracellular matrix proteins, forming protective “rings” around wounds. This structural defense depends on TGFβ signaling, and disabling TGFβ receptors in neutrophils compromised barrier function and increased bacterial invasion risk.
Read Study Summary →
Explore Col3a1-CKO Model →
Metabolism & Diabetes
  • ● Publication: Nature
  • ● Topic: CUL2-APPBP2 E3 ligase regulates PRDM16 stability and beige fat biogenesis
  • ● Model Used: Appbp2 conditional knockout (S-CKO-17610)
  • ● Highlight: CUL2-APPBP2 promotes PRDM16 degradation, suppressing beige fat formation and thermogenesis. Using the protein neddylation inhibitor MLN4924, researchers confirmed CUL2 as the cullin-RING family member responsible for PRDM16 ubiquitination. Inhibition of this pathway enhanced PRDM16 stability, improved glucose tolerance, reduced obesity, and reversed insulin resistance in mouse models.
Read Study Summary →
Explore Appbp2 Model →
How to Apply

Fill out the short form below to apply. No lengthy grant writing required.

Required Information:
Oncology Neurological Immunology Metabolic Cardiovascular Rare Diseases Other
Knockout Knockin Point Mutation Humanized Transgenic Other
Provide the DOI or link to one peer-reviewed article (past 2 years, IF >20).
I agree to Cyagen’s Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
  • All applicants must be over 18 years old and affiliated with a recognized academic or non-profit research entity.
  • Projects must begin within 6 months of the award date.
  • Awardees will enter into a model generation agreement with Cyagen and agree to the Official Contest Rules.
  • Awarded models are co-owned; awardees receive a 1-year exclusive usage period starting from delivery.
  • Models may be used for research purposes only—not for resale, licensing, or third-party distribution.
For full details, see the Official Contest Rules. or contact us at: animal-service@cyagen.com
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