The collaboration now also includes Maryland University, College Park and Maryland University, Baltimore County.
MedImmune, the biotech company headquartered in Maryland, has announced it will expand its collaboration with the Maryland University system, a partnership that began in October 2013 when it joined forces with Maryland University, Baltimore. The partnership now also includes both Maryland University, College Park and Maryland University, Baltimore County.
The partnership, which launched last year with a five year timeline, is worth $6m, of which $5m will be contributed by MedImmune and a further $1m by Maryland University, Baltimore. No information on whether the two new partners will also make a financial contribution.
Medimmune’s research collaboration is one of several regional collaborations with leading research institutions and the state to advance Maryland as a top biotechnology cluster, advance innovative science and accelerate development of key medicines for patients.
As the collaboration is expanded, the collaborators have also announced the first five research projects they will work on. The first project focuses on oncology, and will evaluate a molecule that simultaneously inhibits suppression of anti-tumor immunity and boosts activation of tumor-reactive T cells. The second focuses on respiratory disease, inflammation and autoimmunity, and will evaluate the role of specific phagocytes in inflammatory diseases. The third focuses on cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and will explore the mechanism and role of stem cells in cardiac regeneration. The fourth and fifth focus on infectious diseases. They will explore the immune system-stimulating properties of key innate immune system proteins for use in novel vaccines, and study a novel nanoparticle vaccine delivery system with unique stability and immune-stimulating potential, respectively.
Bahija Jallal, executive vice-president of MedImmune, said: “We are excited to expand this collaboration to include the resources of the University System of Maryland’s three major research universities and to begin work on important projects in several of our core therapeutic areas. This groundbreaking effort will help support our mission of bringing novel new medicines to patients by capitalising on the innovative science and talent available right here, in Maryland’s bioscience hub.”
