University news

The University of Glasgow has agreed an ambitious new research collaboration with AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical business, in the area of immunology and inflammation medicine.

The goal of the three-year collaboration is to identify new pathways by which inflammation can promote diseases and ultimately create better medicines for patients.

The Respiratory, Inflammation, Autoimmunity Medicines Unit at AstraZeneca is establishing the ‘GLAZgo Discovery Unit’ which will be fully embedded within the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow and led by Professor Iain Mcinnes, Director of the Institute.

The GLAZgo Discovery Unit will deliver substantial investment to support 10 full-time staff and PhD students, as well as two-way secondments between the university and AstraZeneca.

By integrating teams fully we aim to create a truly innovative and collaborative atmosphere which will help achieve scientific leadership, develop new drug programmes, and inform existing AstraZeneca programmes.

The collaboration plays to the strengths of both partners – the University of Glasgow excels in linking basic science to understanding disease pathology, and AstraZeneca brings expertise in drug discovery and development. It is expected to attract grant funding from Scottish, UK and European sources and continued long-term, strategic support from AstraZeneca.

Regius Professor Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “The GLAZgo collaboration is a welcome investment in the world-class research at the University of Glasgow. It provides an opportunity to bring drug development expertise to academia to jointly exploit scientific innovation. This is a clear component of ‘Glasgow 2020 – a Global Vision’.

“Drug discovery is a challenging and expensive exercise and it is important that, as scientists, we work together across university, commercial and government sectors to meet the treatment needs of today’s world.

“We have a great deal of expertise at Glasgow and we are confident we will play a positive part in helping AstraZeneca in its quest for new drugs, Dominiczak continues.”

“The objective of this collaboration is to understand the science behind the disease utilising Glasgow’s agility in scientific and clinical thinking in fundamental immunology and inflammatory disease pathology” says Maarten Kraan, Vice President & Head of Respiratory, Inflammation & Autoimmunity Innovative Medicines Unit, AstraZeneca.

“Combining this with our pharmaceutical business focus and execution, this alliance will increase our ability to deliver new treatments for patients” Maarten concludes.

Find out more

• Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation
• Professor Ian Mccinnes

 

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For more information contact Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email stuart.forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com

First published: 26 November 2013