University Chemical Biology Network comes together
19 May 2011
The University of Manchester will today launch a huge network of chemistry and biology academics, working closely with industry to advance the field of chemical biology which underpins the development of many pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agrochemical products.
Funded by the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC and MRC) and with commitments from its 10 industrial partners, the Manchester Chemical Biology Network will bring together more than 50 research groups from a range of disciplines across the University.
The academics will then in turn offer their expert knowledge to industrial partners, including companies such as AstraZeneca, GSK and Pfizer.
More than 100 scientists and industry leaders are expected at tomorrow’s event at the University’s Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre – which has become a focal point for collaborative research across the physical and biological sciences.
The launch will feature talks from the network lead Professor Jason Micklefield, and steering group Professor Sabine Fitch, Professor Steve Taylor and Professor David Ray, as well as presentations from many of the industrial groups involved.
The aim of the network is to bring together scientists with interests in Chemical Biology from industry and across the University’s three scientific Faculties – Engineering and Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Medical and Human Sciences.
This collaboration between research groups will provide a more effective platform to tackle the major challenges associated with discovery of new drugs and other products, of importance to human health and well being, using expertise ranging from synthetic chemistry through to cell biology.
The initial funding over two years will fund University of Manchester researchers to go and work with the industrial partners to share ideas and ways of working, and provide funding for novel collaborative scientific research projects.
It is hoped this, in turn, will lead to fresh collaborations to take the research forward in the future. It is also hoped the network will help bridge the gap which currently exists between chemists and biologists.
Professor Micklefield said: “This is an ideal opportunity to unite researchers across chemical, biological and medical sciences with leading industrial partners to address major challenges in chemical biology.
“We aim to establish the network, and the University of Manchester, as major focal points for chemical biology in Europe by promoting new collaborative and innovative research that addresses problems of importance to industry and society.”
David Holinshead, Director of Science Policy and Relations at AstraZeneca, said: “The application of chemistry and chemical tools to study and manipulate biological systems, is central to AstraZeneca’s R&D, and poses relevant and interesting challenges to interdisciplinary academic science groups.
“The industrial context given to academic research steered through the Manchester MCBN collaborative network concept is very exciting and offers an improved model to accelerate understanding and wider beneficial exploitation of biological systems”.