The BioMed X Institute has launched a new global call for research proposals in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to establish an independent research group focused on the development of a New Platform for Next-Generation Intraocular Biologics.

This new initiative marks the second research initiative at the XSeed Labs incubator, located at Boehringer Ingelheim’s research and development site in Ridgefield, Conn.

While current biologic therapies have significantly improved the treatment of retinal diseases, the burden of frequent intraocular injections remains a substantial barrier to patient adherence. This joint effort will address critical unmet needs in ophthalmic drug development: the challenge of creating biologics with long intraocular half-life and deep retinal penetration.

To overcome this bottleneck, BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim are seeking innovative and interdisciplinary research proposals aimed at developing a fundamentally novel biologics design principle: one that combines long-term intraocular activity with deep and efficient retinal tissue penetration. The selected research team will be tasked with building a robust, innovative platform for the design and validation of next-generation intraocular biologics that can modulate targets within the retina while significantly reducing injection frequency.

“A year after unveiling our first research team at Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ridgefield R&D site, we are thrilled to expand our joint XSeed Labs incubator on the company’s campus and into a new area,” said Mark Johnston, CEO of BioMed X USA. “This extended collaboration is proof that installing our BioMed X model within the campus of a major pharmaceutical company can indeed add value to their internal R&D pipeline.”

“Our Ridgefield innovation hub is home to Boehringer’s Biotherapeutics Center of Excellence, dedicated to pioneering novel biologics that address unmet patient needs across a wide spectrum of diseases,” said Dr. Andrew Nixon, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Biotherapeutics Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim. “By expanding our collaboration with BioMed X – already advancing fibrosis and wound healing research on our Ridgefield campus – we now aim to leverage our biologics expertise to drive innovative solutions toward improving retinal drug delivery.”

Life sciences researchers who are interested in becoming part of this new BioMed X team on the Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield campus are invited to respond to the call for applications by submitting a project proposal via the BioMed X Career Space before July 12, 2025.