Pipeline

CNM supports early-stage drug discovery projects from Emory leaders to advance novel therapeutics towards the clinic. Read more below about projects currently in our pipeline as well as opportunities to apply for a Therapeutic Advancement Award.

2027 Project Selection: Pre-Applications Open 8/5 - 9/15/2026

CNM is now accepting pre-applications for the next cohort of CNM Therapeutic Advancement Awards. These awards are uniquely designed to facilitate the rapid translation of promising, early-stage drug discovery projects at Emory. Successful projects will receive clinical guidance, access to enabling resources and expertise, project management, IP coaching, and strategic funds to drive quality asset creation and maturation (see below for details).

The 2027 funding call is disease-agnostic, seeking promising (i.e. well-established disease biology and mechanistic insight) early-stage drug discovery projects, including:

  • Assay development and miniaturization
  • High-throughput screening and hit identification
  • Lead optimization (medicinal chemistry)
  • Preliminary pharmacological analyses

Through the financial and programmatic support provided, CNM aims to advance both the progression of projects towards the clinic as well as the value of their intellectual property at each stage of the pipeline. Emerging modalities will also be considered.

Application deadline: September, 15th 2026

If you have questions,  or have a project you would like to discuss, please email us at newmedicines@emory.edu or click here to set up a time to meet with us.

Click here to learn more and apply today!
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CNM Pipeline Projects

Potrait of Rafi Ahmed
Enhancement of Adoptive Cell Therapy (ACT) in Oncology and Infectious Disease

Rafi Ahmed, PhD, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Pipeline Stage: Discovery (Biologic)

Potrait of Tyler Beyett
Targeting EGFR and HER2 Insertion Variants for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Tyler Beyett, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Mingji Dai
Development of Small Molecule CaV3.2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Osteoarthritic Pain

Mingji Dai, PhD, Asa Griggs Candler Professor, Department of Chemistry

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Huw Davies
Small Molecule Inhibitors of Oncogenic STAT Transcription Factors

Huw Davies, PhD, Asa Griggs Candler Professor, Department of Chemistry

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Haian Fu
Molecular Glue Discovery to Restore Tumor Suppressor Function in SPOP-Mutated Cancer

Haian Fu, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Andrey Ivanov
Development of PPI Disruptors to Overcome Acquired Resistance to EGFR Therapy in Lung Cancer

Andrey Ivanov, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Sumin Kang
Identification of a Promising AASS Inhibitor and Anti-Metastatic Drug

Sumin Kang, PhD, Professor; Division Director of Basic and Translational Science, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology

Pipeline Stage: Hit Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Dennis Liotta
Development of Novel Cannabinoid Derived Therapeutics for the Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy

Dennis Liotta, PhD, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor, Department of Chemistry

Pipeline Stage: Lead Optimization (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Xiulei Mo
Discovery of First-In-Class Inhibitors of TGFβ/SMAD4 Signaling Pathway

Xiulei Mo, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Eric Ortlund
Examining the Effect of LRH-1 Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment

Eric Ortlund, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and the Emory Vaccine Center

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Stephen Traynelis
Subunit-Selective NMDA Receptor Modulators for the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Indications

Stephen Traynelis, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Phase: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Portrait of Yong Wan
Targeting the N-Glycans Pathway as a New Immunomodulatory Anti-Cancer Therapy

Yong Wan, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification

Potrait of Yong Wan
Developing an OTUD4-CD73 Inhibitor for Immunotherapy

Yong Wan, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology

Pipeline Stage: Hit-to-Lead Identification (Small Molecule)

Potrait of Chunhui Xu
Small Molecules for Cardioprotection

Chunhui Xu, PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics

Pipeline Stage: Hit Identification (Small Molecule)