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Korea Innovation QuickFire Challenge: Targeting Neuroscience

Johnson & Johnson

Overview

Despite significant advances in understanding and treating nervous system disorders, millions of people worldwide continue to live with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions that impact their quality of life. It is estimated that more than one in three people are affected by neurological conditions, which are the leading cause of illness and disability globally.1,2,3 These conditions range from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and geographic atrophy, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. The current treatment landscape for these conditions is limited, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and more effective treatment strategies.

To address these challenging diseases and disorders, Johnson & Johnson is proud to announce the launch of the Korea Innovation QuickFire Challenge: Targeting Neuroscience. Innovators from Korea or across the globe, with a demonstrated interest in leveraging the Korea ecosystem, are invited to submit their transformative potential solutions that aim to address challenging, hard-to-drug targets relevant to neurodegeneration of the brain and eye and/or neuropsychiatry. The innovators with the best potential solutions will have the opportunity to receive grant funding from a total pool of up to $100,000, JLABS Korea membership for one year, and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson.

1 World Health Organization (WHO). 14 March 2024 News Release. Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/14-03-2024-over-1-in-3-people-affected-by-neurological-conditions--the-leading-cause-of-illness-and-disability-worldwide

2 Bakri SJ, Bektas M, Sharp D, Luo R, Sarda SP, Khan S. Geographic atrophy: Mechanism of disease, pathophysiology, and role of the complement system. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2023 May;29(5-a Suppl):S2-S11.

3 Mandal PK, Gaur S, Roy RG, Samkaria A, Ingole R, Goel A. Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorders: Overview of Clinical Features, Neurotransmitter Alterations, Pharmacological Interventions, and Impact of Oxidative Stress in the Disease Process. ACS Chem Neurosci. 2022 Oct 5;13(19):2784-2802.

Why this challenge matters to us

At Johnson & Johnson, our mission is to help reduce the burden, disability and devastation caused by serious neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. This opportunity supports our commitment to advancing our understanding of these conditions and developing breakthrough treatments and solutions for people living with them.

What we’re looking for

Innovators from Korea or across the globe, with a demonstrated interest in leveraging the Korea ecosystem, are invited to submit their transformative potential solutions that aim to address challenging, hard-to-drug targets relevant to neurodegeneration of the brain and eye and/or neuropsychiatry.

Specific areas of interest include the design of novel chemical entities representing small molecules, peptides, RNA-targeting molecules, molecular glues, or degraders.

To be considered, potential solutions must demonstrate clear feasibility and proof of concept for the technology, with the potential for drug development and therapeutic benefits for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, geographic atrophy, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and/or bipolar disorder.

Awards

The innovators with the best potential solutions will have the opportunity to receive grant funding from a total pool of up to $100,000, JLABS Korea membership for one year, and mentorship from experts across Johnson & Johnson.

Timeline

May 7, 2025

Launch

August 1, 2025

Application deadline

Late October/Early November

Award announcement

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🎯 1. Alignment with Strategic Focus & Unmet Medical Needs

Whether you're applying to QuickFire Challenges, JLABS residency, or disease-specific innovation grants, your proposal must address a clear, unmet clinical or market need in areas J&J prioritizes (e.g., oncology, metabolic disorders, health equity) 

Applications should directly link to J&J’s health equity, prevention, interception, or cure strategies

🌟 2. Transformational Innovation with Clear Milestones

J&J favors transformative science or technology that is not just innovative but also scalable and impactful 

Judges want a 12–18 month project plan with concrete deliverables and clear “time-to-market” goals 

👥 3. Strong Team & Institutional/Diverse Partnerships

Show a solid team with relevant expertise, including leadership, technical competence, and financial capacity 

For Innovation Grants or disease-specific awards (e.g., AACR-J&J Lung Cancer Grants), multi-institutional teams (2–3 PIs across institutions) with clinical components are required .

Health Equity and Veterans Challenges emphasize lived experience and team alignment with communities.

💰 4. Realistic Budgeting & Use of Funds

Provide transparent, justified budgets—QuickFire grants typically cap at US $250–500K, with higher-end provided via programs like JLABS + QuickFire .

Expect documentation of funding sources, existing partnerships, and financial solvency .

🏢 5. Access to Ecosystem (JLABS & Mentorship)

Many awards offer residency at JLABS, mentorship, and ecosystem access—but applicants must demonstrate readiness for such integration .

The offering includes capital-efficient lab space and entrepreneurship support 

🧠 6. Clear Go-to-Market/Implementation Plan

Competitive proposals detail key milestones, scalability strategy, and time-to-market within a short timeframe .

Strong plans also outline clinical validation components, especially for oncology or therapeutic innovations 

🔎 7. External/Peer-Led Selection & Community Input

Evaluation panels often include external experts, including subject-matter specialists and community stakeholders .

Community-based challenges emphasize lived experience with reviewers assessing feasibility, impact, team quality, and scalability.

📋 Quick Reference Summary

Success Factor	Action Items
Strategic alignment	Map proposal to J&J priorities & clinical gaps
Innovation & milestone focus	Emphasize transformative potential & timeline
Team strength	Showcase leadership, partnerships, and experience
Budget clarity	Detail use of funds and funding sources
Ecosystem integration	Demonstrate fit for JLABS and mentorship support
Implementation plan	Define next steps, go-to-market, and validation
Peer/external review readiness	Prepare for scrutiny by experts and communities

🛠️ Pro Tips

Choose a fitting grant stream: QuickFire, disease-specific, health equity, or veterans initiatives.

Highlight unmet clinical or market need directly related to J&J’s innovation priorities.

Assemble a team early: consider cross-institutional and community-led collaborations.

Develop a detailed 12–18 month roadmap with milestones and go-to-market strategies.

Prepare a realistic, justified budget—including current funding and financial stability.

Engage with JLABS network early, showing readiness for incubation and mentorship.

Submit polished, non-confidential documentation—formatted to J&J’s application templates.

Tailor to reviewers: include both scientific experts and representatives of target communities.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

Potential solutions will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers on their ability to meet the following criteria:

Strategic alignment with QuickFire Challenge areas of focus
Potential impact for transforming health outcomes for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, geographic atrophy, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and/or bipolar disorder
Feasibility of the idea and supporting data
Thoroughness of approach
Identification of key resources and a plan to further the idea
Demonstrated interest in the Korea innovation ecosystem

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Johnson & Johnson

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA

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