Driving discovery at Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research

- Details
- Published: Thursday, 14 May 2015 11:13
- Written by National Centre for Universities and Business

Case study by Astrazeneca
The Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research (MCCIR) is a unique, tripartite collaboration between the University of Manchester, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Each invested an equal amount to engage in pre-competitive research together.
MCCIR scientists aim to develop novel concepts in inflammation research that may lead to new discoveries for patients in an area of significant unmet clinical need. Inflammatory diseases affect millions of people worldwide, causing disability, pain and in some cases premature death. Inflammation is one of the body’s natural healing processes and understanding how and why inflammation becomes harmful is vital for improving treatment of chronic diseases such as respiratory diseases, cancer and heart disease.
“To our knowledge, this open innovation collaboration with academia and two industry partners contributing equally is unique. All credit to the University of Manchester for having the foresight and courage to undertake this venture. We now have greater opportunity to explore our innovative hypotheses and do cutting-edge science,” said Rose Maciewicz, Chief Scientist, Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Innovative Medicines biotech unit, AstraZeneca. Edith M. Hessel, Vice President, Respiratory Therapy Area Unit, GSK, agreed, “MCCIR is pioneering a new approach to academic-industry collaboration that promises faster routes to scientific discovery, greater access to innovative projects and a new focus on finding treatments for the causes, rather than the outcomes, of inflammation.
“Brainstorming new concepts in inflammatory disease with industrial and clinical scientists and then having the freedom and the facilities to act upon these ideas is an unmissable opportunity. If our goal is to translate great basic science for the benefit of patients, then industrial scientists should be involved at the beginning of the discovery process. The MCCIR embodies a new model of partnership; a model that I believe will release the constraints on our understanding of inflammatory diseases and how to alleviate them,” said Professor Tracy Hussell, MCCIR Centre Director.
The collaboration has already brought tangible scientific results in several areas: |
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