MRC and UCB collaborate to offer access to UCB’s novel antibody discovery platform
Posted: 30 March 2015 | Victoria White
The MRC and UCB are to launch a collaboration that will provide scientists with access to cutting-edge technologies to discover new monoclonal antibodies…
The Medical Research Council (MRC) and global pharmaceutical company UCB are to launch a collaboration that will provide UK scientists with access to cutting-edge technologies to discover new monoclonal antibodies.
These antibodies will enable scientists to research the mechanisms of human disease, identify novel therapeutic opportunities, and may provide the initial starting points for new treatments.
Under the joint initiative, MRC funded academic scientists will work in collaboration with UCB scientists to access and apply the company’s novel high-throughput antibody screening capabilities in support of research directed to biological targets which are implicated in human diseases. Using UCB’s innovative technology platform, MRC funded scientists will be able to efficiently sample the immune repertoire, potentially assessing over a billion antibody-producing B-cells, to find those rare cells generating antibody with the exact functional properties required to inhibit the relevant disease process.
Biomarkers aren’t just supporting drug discovery – they’re driving it
FREE market report
From smarter trials to faster insights, this report unpacks the science, strategy and real-world impact behind the next generation of precision therapies.
What you’ll unlock:
- How biomarkers are guiding dose selection and early efficacy decisions in complex trials
- Why multi-omics, liquid biopsy and digital tools are redefining the discovery process
- What makes lab data regulatory-ready and why alignment matters from day one
Explore how biomarkers are shaping early drug development
Access the full report – it’s free!
The UCB Technology Platform Access programme offers researchers access state-of-the-art technology to deliver innovative new medicines
Dr Chris Watkins, Director of Translational Research and Industry at the MRC, said: “This exciting new partnership with UCB will bring together some of the best UK scientists with UK-based industry to drive forward the quest to discover new treatments. Through access to cutting edge technologies such as these, the UK research community can build on its strengths to accelerate research that will bring benefit to patients.”
Discussing the collaboration Ismail Kola, Executive Vice President of UCB and President of New Medicines, said: “The UCB Technology Platform Access programme offers the chance for researchers to access our state-of-the-art technology and scientific networks to deliver innovative new medicines. This joint initiative with the MRC is a world-leading collaborative interface between academia and industry to enhance the pace of new drug discovery and improve patient outcomes.”
It’s anticipated that this joint initiative will initially run for a period of three years, with up to five projects per year being selected for support by UCB and the MRC.
For more information about the MRC, please visit www.mrc.ac.uk.
Related topics
Antibody Discovery, Drug Discovery
Related organisations
Medical Research Council, UCB Pharma
