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Fortis Grant Series:

Featuring AbNano VHH Libraries and Services

Advances in single‑domain antibody engineering are enabling new ways to probe and modulate complex immune pathways, yet many high‑value targets still lack the selective, stable binders needed to turn ideas into testable assays or leads.

The Fortis Grant Series gives academic, non‑profit, and industry teams fast access to AbNano® VHH discovery services for a single recombinant protein target.

We invite applications that deploy AbNano® VHH discovery in areas such as immuno‑oncology, autoimmunity, engineered cell systems, and advanced biologics, where new VHH panels can improve target validation, clarify mode of action, or enable next‑generation modalities.

Fortis Grant Series:
AbNano VHH Service Packages
Grant Value Card

Solid Phase Panning Package Grant Value

$10,000 GRANT VALUE
Includes:
  • Up to 3 rounds of panning with awardee-supplied recombinant protein targets adsorbed onto styrene plates
  • Single-point ELISA testing of 94 VHH from the output round
  • Comprehensive Sanger sequencing and delivery of hits

Solution Phase Panning Package Grant Value

$15,000 GRANT VALUE
Includes:
  • 2 rounds of panning with biotin-labeled recombinant protein targets captured via streptavidin beads
  • Single-point ELISA testing of 188 VHH from the output round
  • Comprehensive Sanger sequencing and delivery of hits

Key Dates

March 31, 2026 9:00 p.m. ET
00:00 UTC (Apr 1) 		Application deadline
April 27, 2026 12:00 noon ET
16:00 UTC 		Award notifications sent to applicants
May 31, 2026 12:00 noon ET
16:00 UTC 		Awardee acceptance deadline
June 31, 2026 12:00 noon ET
16:00 UTC 		Project initiation, pending material qualification and agreement execution
August 31, 2026 9:00 p.m. ET
00:00 UTC (Sept 1) 		Deadline for non-awardees to redeem 50% discount on AbNano Naïve or Anti-T-Cell VHH Libraries
December 31, 2026 Within 20 weeks of final material receipt Project completion
  1. Open to academic, non-profit, and industry investigators conducting preclinical research suitable for a single VHH discovery campaign.
  2. One application per project lead.
  3. Applicants must secure institutional or corporate approvals before applying and before shipping materials.
  4. Projects with an active paid AbNano VHH library or discovery campaign on the same target are not eligible.

Applicants must define a recombinant protein target and explain how VHH binders will address a specific biological question or technical gap.

Strong proposals should include:

  • The biological context and rationale for using VHHs.
  • How a focused binder panel will advance the project within the 2026 timeline.
  • A feasible plan to test resulting VHH hits in relevant assays, models, or platforms.
  • Description of the recombinant protein antigen to be provided, including:
    • Target identity, class, and concise biological context.
    • Preferred format (e.g., tags, biotinylation, or other constraints).
    • Adequate material suitable for phage display and compliant with shipping regulations.
  • Confirmation that all required institutional or corporate approvals will be in place before application submission and material shipment.

Applications will be evaluated by a Fortis review committee based on:

  • Scientific merit and novelty: Strength of the biological question and clarity of the mechanistic or translational gap.
  • Relevance: Fit to research areas where VHH tools can have high impact.
  • Feasibility: Antigen suitability for phage display, project scope, and timeline practicality.
  • Impact: Potential for the resulting VHH panel to enable new insights, modalities, or collaborations.

Committee decisions are final.

Deliverables, Expectations, and Visibility

  1. A completed AbNano VHH solid‑phase or solution‑phase panning campaign against one nominated recombinant protein target.
  2. ELISA single‑point screening data for 94 or 188 VHH clones, depending on the selected package.
  3. Sanger‑derived nucleotide and amino acid sequences for confirmed VHH hits, with associated screening data.
  1. Acknowledge the Fortis Grant Series and AbNano in publications, posters, and presentations that include grant‑generated data.
  2. Participate in reasonable follow‑up scientific discussions about VHH performance and potential, where feasible.
  1. Underlying biology, models, and internal follow‑up work remain with the awardee, subject to any separate agreement with Fortis.
  2. IP and data rights from the VHH discovery campaign will be set out in a study‑specific or master agreement between Fortis and the awardee’s organization.
  3. Publications or presentations using grant data should acknowledge the Fortis Grant Series and AbNano and may follow review/coordination timelines defined in the agreement.
  4. By accepting the grant, awardees agree to appear as Fortis Grant Series awardees on Fortis/Bethyl/Abcore channels and to collaborate on selected promotional activities.
Read Terms & Conditions >
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Terms & Conditions

These Terms and Conditions incorporate Fortis Life Sciences' standard sales terms and the AbNano Discovery Library Product and Services Agreement.

Eligibility and Submission

  • Applicants must be employed by or affiliated with an eligible organization, as described in the Eligibility section.
  • Proposals must be complete, in English, and describe original preclinical research suitable for a solid-phase or solution-phase AbNano VHH discovery project.
  • Only one application per project lead is permitted.
  • Applicants are responsible for obtaining all required institutional or corporate approvals before submission.
  • Teams with an active paid AbNano project on the same target at the time of application are not eligible.

Grant Scope and Limitations

  • The grant consists of one AbNano VHH solid-phase or solution-phase panning project as described in this call, including single-point ELISA screening of 94 or 188 VHH clones and Sanger-derived sequences for confirmed hits with associated screening data.
  • The grant has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash, credit, or unrelated discounts.
  • The grant may not be transferred, resold, or assigned without prior written approval from Fortis.
  • Any work outside the awarded scope may be quoted and contracted separately under standard Fortis terms.

Timelines and Completion

  • The awardee must confirm acceptance of the grant by May 1, 2026, at 12:00 noon ET.
  • Project initiation, including receipt and qualification of antigen materials and execution of any required agreement, is anticipated for June 1, 2026, unless otherwise agreed with Fortis.
  • Discovery work must be scheduled so that funded activities are completed by December 31, 2026, or by a different date agreed in writing between Fortis and the awardee's organization.

Responsibilities and Liability

  • The awardee is responsible for ensuring that all antigen materials and associated information supplied to Fortis are safe to handle, compliant with shipping regulations, and suitable for the planned discovery work.
  • Fortis is not responsible for research outcomes, findings, interpretations, or conclusions resulting from the project or subsequent use of VHH sequences and binders.
  • Fortis is not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from participation in the grant program or use of the project results.

Publications, Data, and Promotion

  • The awardee retains ownership of underlying biological questions, models, and internal follow-up work, subject to any separate agreement with Fortis.
  • Intellectual property and data rights arising from the project will be defined in a separate study-specific or master agreement between Fortis and the awardee's organization.
  • The awardee agrees to acknowledge the Fortis Grant Series and relevant AbNano products and services in publications, posters, and presentations that include grant-generated data.
  • By accepting the grant, the awardee agrees to participate in mutually agreed scientific and marketing activities (for example, webinars, conference events, application notes, white papers, case studies, or press releases), with formats, timelines, and level of detail defined collaboratively between Fortis and the awardee's organization.

Program Changes

  • Fortis may modify, suspend, or cancel the grant program, including eligibility, timelines, and grant scope, at its sole discretion.
  • If the program is modified or cancelled, Fortis will make reasonable efforts to honor any grant already awarded or propose a suitable alternative.
  • Submission of an application and participation in the program imply acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.