ASPIRE in Action

Through A Specialized Platform for Innovative Research Exploration (ASPIRE), NCATS proposes to transform chemistry from an individualized craft to a modern, information-based science. By addressing long-standing challenges in the field of chemistry, including lack of standardization, low reproducibility and an inability to predict how new chemicals will behave, ASPIRE is designed to bring novel, safe and effective treatments to more patients more quickly at lower cost.

The circular ASPIRE infographic shows the key factors of speeding scientific solutions for the opioid public health crises. There are four component areas: novel chemistries and innovative technologies that will revolutionize discovery, development and pre-clinical testing of the other two component areas of better treatments and drugs for opioid use disorder. At the center are three states: planning, prototype development and milestone delivery; and prototype delivery, independent valuation and testing.

Credit: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

April 2021

2020 NCATS ASPIRE Reduction-to-Practice Challenge Winners

The 2020 ASPIRE Reduction-to-Practice Challenge aimed to spur the development of a comprehensive integrated platform for translational innovation in pain, opioid use disorder and overdose.

September 2019

2018 NCATS ASPIRE Design Challenges Winners

Through the ASPIRE Design Challenges, NCATS is using the ASPIRE platform to support the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®. The 2018 NCATS ASPIRE Design Challenges were launched to encourage innovative and catalytic approaches toward solving the opioid crisis.