Anthropic opens life sciences research program with free access to internal AI models
University, nonprofit and government research teams can apply to work with Anthropic scientists for 8–12 weeks. Applications will stay open for about 14 days.
Anthropic has opened applications for a life sciences research program. Selected research teams will work directly with Anthropic scientists and use the company's internal AI models for free.
Anthropic has opened applications for a new life sciences guest investigator program. Selected researchers will work directly with its science teams and use the company's internal AI models and research tools for free.
The program is for lead researchers and research teams at universities, nonprofit research groups and government laboratories. Those chosen will work with Anthropic researchers for eight to 12 weeks. They will use the company's AI models and internal research tools to study scientific questions and produce findings, analyses or tools.
Applications opened on October 22, 2026, and will stay open for about 14 days. Anthropic is looking for projects in five areas: studying cause and effect in human biology, studying the structure of molecules and using computers to study them, medicinal chemistry, finding new drugs, and clinical science.
Anthropic is not offering unlimited access to its technology. Instead, it wants researchers to name a clear problem they could work on with its team. Each proposal must explain how the team could produce a useful research result during the program.
Anthropic wants research results within 12 weeks
The company is giving priority to projects that could produce early discoveries, answers to unanswered scientific questions, datasets that anyone can use, or other research resources that can be shared publicly.
Anthropic recognizes that checking whether a scientific discovery is correct can take much longer than the program allows. Researchers do not need to solve a difficult research question completely. However, they must show that they have a realistic plan to produce early evidence within eight to 12 weeks.
Some projects may be allowed to continue beyond the original collaboration period.
Nathan Frey, who works on life sciences at Anthropic, explained the importance of researchers guiding the work in a LinkedIn post announcing the program.
"We want humans to remain at the center of scientific discovery, deciding what questions to pursue, and how to pursue them," he wrote.
Research teams taking part will be able to use Anthropic's knowledge and internal research systems. The company will run the AI models and research tools needed for the agreed projects.
Researchers keep their data rights as Anthropic plans to share research openly
Anthropic says researchers in the program will keep the rights to their data during the collaboration. They will also keep the rights to any further research they carry out independently.
The company plans to publish research results together with the participating researchers. It also plans to make related data and code open source, so other researchers can use them to build on the work.
Importantly, applicants do not have to give Anthropic their research datasets during the application process or while taking part in the program. Anthropic specifically tells applicants to include only information that is already publicly available in their proposals.
The new guest investigator program gives scientists another way to work with Anthropic's technology. Its existing AI for Science initiative provides Claude credits to support scientific research. Its Life Sciences Verification Program gives eligible scientists access to its most capable AI models that are publicly available for biology research.
The new program is different because researchers will work directly with Anthropic's research team and use internal AI models and research tools for specific projects.
Who can apply
Applicants must be researchers who work with a university or other academic institution, a government laboratory, or a nonprofit research organization.
Graduate students and other people training in research can apply on behalf of their lead researcher and serve as the main contact for the application.
Proposals must explain the research problem, why the applicant has the right skills and experience to study it, what results they expect, and why working directly with Anthropic would offer a special advantage.
Anthropic estimates that filling in the application form takes less than 30 minutes.
Researchers can apply through Anthropic's Guest Investigator Program. Selected projects are expected to last eight to 12 weeks.