The UAB and MRC Technology explore opportunities to collaborate in the development of new drugs

On 16 January, the Eureka Building of the UAB Research Park played host to a conference given by the British biomedical organisation MRC Technology, in which it presented its collaborative research model and how it works with universities and research centres to develop new drugs based on the identification of new therapeutic targets.

16/01/2017

The UAB Valorisation and Patents Office (OVP), with the collaboration of the UAB Research Park, organised this conference to inform researchers of the UAB-CIE Sphere of MRC Technology's collaborative research model and how it can help to turn their research projects into new drugs which can benefit society.

In charge of the conference was Mera Swami, Business Development Manager at MRC Technology responsible for identifying new collaboration opportunities. The organisation's interest focuses on identifying research projects working on new therapeutic targets and which are in the initial stages of research. The entity offers its expertise in drug discovery, both in the development of molecules and of therapeutic antibodies.

MRC Technology was founded in 2000 to foster the transfer of results of researchers at the UK Medical Research Council (MRC). However, it currently works in collaboration with research centres and technology transfer offices of universities across the globe, as well as with biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms. Its objective is to identify new promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of human diseases with unresolved medical needs and develop new drugs which can benefit patients and society.

MRC's investment in different research projects has made it possible for four drugs to be launched into the market. One is a cancer drug commercialised by Merck; another was developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, commercialised by Biogen IDEC; another for rheumatoid arthritis, with Roche, and a drug for ulcerative colitis, licensed by the firm Takeda. The profits received are reinvested into generating new therapeutic targets.

More information
MRC Technology Website