The Hypothesis-to-Evidence Grant
A fully-funded pilot for researchers who want to take a computational prediction all the way to a wet-lab result — K-Dense Web builds the case, Litmus Science executes the experiment.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Why this grant exists
Computational tools are good at generating leads now — a candidate binder, a repurposing hit, a mechanism worth testing. What most researchers don't have is fast, low-friction funding for the step right after: getting that prediction into a controlled experiment. The gap isn't reasoning. It's the step where a computational lead meets a wet lab.
This grant funds exactly that step. K-Dense Web helps build the evidence base and finalize the protocol; Litmus Science routes the experiment to a vetted lab and gets the data back. Each funded project becomes a documented, public case study — a real hypothesis, tested, with the result published either way.
What the grant includes
Everything below is provided at no cost to the awarded researcher.
Up to $5,000 in funded wet-lab execution
Covers a single, scoped experiment — assay development, protein expression, cell line validation, a pilot study. Costs beyond $5,000 become the Fellow's responsibility, flagged before the protocol is finalized.
Guided hypothesis-to-protocol support
2 months of K-Dense Web Plus access ($400 value) at no cost, for literature search, data evaluation, and experimental design.
Vendor sourcing and execution
Multiple quotes from Litmus's vetted lab network, so you're not locked into one vendor or a months-long CRO onboarding process.
Fast turnaround
A target of roughly two to three weeks from approved protocol to results — not the months typical of traditional contract research.
Full documentation of the loop
Hypothesis, evidence, protocol, quotes, raw data, and interpretation, organized in one place instead of scattered across email threads.
Case study co-authorship
You're credited as a collaborator, with review and approval rights before anything is published.
Featured visibility
Published on our blog and shared across social and newsletter channels, with individual credit, not generic attribution.
Data and IP ownership
You retain ownership of your research question, data, and results. We provide funding, tooling, and lab access — nothing more.
What we ask in return
In accepting the award, each Fellow agrees to:
Run one experiment through the program
A single, clearly-scoped experiment via Litmus Science, tied to your approved hypothesis and protocol. Multiple smaller experiments within that same protocol are fine too, if clearly scoped. Costs beyond the $5,000 cap become the Fellow's or institution's responsibility, flagged during protocol finalization — not after the fact.
Let the process be documented
Every stage — hypothesis, protocol, results — is written up as a public case study. You review and approve it before it's published, and you're responsible for securing your institution's approval for the publicity if that applies to you.
Cite the program in any publication
Papers, preprints, posters, grant applications, public talks — if the work from this grant shows up, it's cited using acknowledgment language we provide at kickoff.
Be reasonably available for a short interview
A brief conversation or written Q&A about your experience, used to shape the case study narrative.
Use funds only for the approved experiment
Funds are paid directly to the lab vendor executing your protocol — this isn't a general stipend.
Who can apply
Open to researchers at any career stage working in, or wanting to work in, drug discovery, molecular or cell biology, biomarker research, industrial or synthetic biology, or a related experimental field.
Eligible career stages
- PhD candidates
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Faculty and academic PIs
- Biotech founders and early-stage R&D teams
- Independent researchers (evaluated case-by-case)
Hard requirements
- A specific, testable hypothesis
- Willingness to run it as a single, defined experiment within the program timeline
- Agreement to public documentation and citation in any resulting publications
What we're looking for
Strong proposals pair an existing evidence gap with an experiment that can plausibly close it within budget ($5,000) and timeline (2–3 weeks). We prioritize high-throughput, plug-and-play biophysical and molecular assays, including:
Protein Binding & Kinetics
SPR/BLI binding affinity validation for AI-generated variants — measuring Kd, kon, koff. See our SPR assay spec.
Small-Molecule IC50 Enzyme Inhibition
Biochemical target screening and dose-response profiling.
Custom DNA & Oligo Synthesis / Construct Assembly
High-throughput synthesis, vector assembly, and sequencing verification.
RNA / LNP Encapsulation & Characterization
mRNA synthesis and lipid nanoparticle formulation, including size profiling and encapsulation efficiency (PDI).
Quantitative Biochemical Omics & Metabolomics
LC-MS for untargeted small-molecule and lipid profiling.
Don't see your experiment listed — that's fine. We evaluate well-scoped custom proposals on a rolling basis; reach out to arun@fulcrum.science if you want to talk it through before applying.
Selection process
Every application is reviewed by the program team and scored against the same published rubric.
Proposal submission
Submit your hypothesis, proposed experiment, and supporting background through the application form.
Feasibility screening
We check scope, budget fit, and compatibility with Litmus's lab network.
Scientific evaluation
Independent scoring of rigor and potential impact.
A short conversation
We pressure-test the hypothesis together and confirm the experiment is decisively scoped.
Award decisions
Three proposals are selected per cycle, chosen to span different domains and experiment types so the resulting case studies are genuinely varied.
Kickoff
You work with K-Dense Web to finalize the protocol, sign off on the requirements, and funds are released directly to the lab vendor.
Ready to apply?
Submit your hypothesis and proposed experiment. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Start Your Application →Questions
What is the Hypothesis-to-Evidence Grant?
A one-time, fully-funded pilot: an end-to-end wet-lab experiment run through Litmus Science, with K-Dense Web supporting hypothesis and protocol development — in exchange for a public case study documenting the process.
Is there any cost to apply or participate?
No. There's no application fee, and the funded work itself is covered up to the $5,000 cap.
Do I really have to cite the program if I publish?
Yes — for papers, preprints, posters, grant applications, or public talks that draw on this work, using the citation language we provide at kickoff.
Do I have to run exactly one experiment?
Not necessarily. Multiple smaller experiments are fine as long as they're clearly scoped to your approved hypothesis and protocol.
Do I need experience with K-Dense Web or Litmus Science?
No, though familiarity with K-Dense Web is helpful going in.
What if my proposed experiment doesn't fit Litmus's current lab network?
We'll work with you to rescope it or identify an alternate vendor during feasibility screening — network fit gets sorted out before you're deep into a protocol.
Will I own my data and results?
Yes. You retain ownership; we provide the funding and tooling, not a claim on your research.
What if the experiment doesn't produce the result I expected?
That's still valuable. A well-designed experiment that clearly refutes a hypothesis is still a usable, publishable case study.
Can I propose an experiment outside the categories listed above?
Yes — the categories are examples of what we prioritize, not an exhaustive list. A specific, testable hypothesis that fits the budget, timeline, and network is what actually matters.
What happens after the case study is published?
You're credited as a collaborator, and the protocol, data, and writeup are yours to use in future grant applications, publications, or research.
Have more questions? Reach out to arun@fulcrum.science.