UofG announces second research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company for immune-related diseases
Published: 22 September 2026
World-changing experts at the University of Glasgow will partner with scientists at leading pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to tackle immune-related diseases.
World-changing experts at the University of Glasgow will partner with scientists at leading pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) to tackle immune-related diseases.
The £7.6m four-year project expands on an initial five-year collaboration focused on the discovery of potential new treatment options and therapies for patients living with a range of immune-related conditions.
This expansion is testament to the depth of world-leading expertise in immunological conditions at the University of Glasgow. The team, led by Professor Carl Goodyear, includes Professors Iain McInnes, Neil Basu, David Colville, Robert Gray, Gwo-Tzer Ho and Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska.
The initial five-year collaboration between Lilly and the University focused on inflammatory conditions including psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibrosis and vasculitis. This latest research collaboration will continue to focus on rheumatic diseases, and now also includes gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, and respiratory diseases such as COPD and interstitial lung disease.
The research teams will link expertise to explore the concept of immune reprogramming and provide the rationale for combination therapies that may have the potential to demonstrate breakthrough efficacy in clinical trials. Scientists will also explore the potential of whole-body imaging, utilising the NPIP Scotland Total-body PET scanner, a facility managed through partnership between the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
Researchers will bring together the world-class clinical and translational medicine available in Glasgow with the outstanding therapeutic capabilities and technology platforms available at Lilly, with the goal of discovering and validating novel disease mechanisms and potential drug targets.
Professor Carl Goodyear, Professor of Translational Immunology and Assistant Vice-Principal at the University of Glasgow, said: “We are delighted to renew our collaboration with Eli Lilly, which represents an important opportunity to combine Glasgow’s world-class clinical and translational skills with Lilly’s therapeutic capabilities and technology platforms.
“The renewal of our collaboration cements the University of Glasgow’s position as a partner of choice for patient-related medical research and drug discovery.
“Our combined vision is to collaborate on research across a range of immune-related disease for the furtherance of impactful scientific, clinical, and pharmaceutical benefits. Our overall aim is to alleviate the suffering of individuals with immune-mediated diseases so they can live better lives.”
Professor Iain McInnes, University of Glasgow Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, said: “We are very proud to be continuing our collaboration with Lilly and to be expanding the scope of our work together across a broad range of immune-related diseases.
“The University of Glasgow is committed to translating world-leading research into real-world clinical impact for patients, and this strengthened collaboration will play an important role in helping us achieve that goal.”
Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk
First published: 22 September 2026