Power group formed to combat potentially fatal respiratory diseases
MRC Technology, Cambridge-based AstraZeneca, Asthma UK and British Lung Foundation have entered into a collaboration to explore novel treatments for respiratory diseases.
The industry-charity collaboration is probing the link between epigenetics and respiratory disease; new epigenetic drugs would improve the lives of millions of people affected by respiratory diseases every year.
Epigenetics are changes in the expression of genes, which could be attributed to lifestyle and other external factors affecting the body. Epigenetics do not change the DNA sequence. Until now epigenetics research has mostly focused on cancer but it presents a promising avenue for respiratory research which, it is hoped, will help accelerate the delivery of new treatments.
The collaboration is combining resources and expertise in drug discovery and clinical development, funding, and access to research networks and patient groups to enable early stage scientific research to be translated into potential new therapies for respiratory diseases.
The partners are calling on researchers to join them to accelerate epigenetic respiratory research, particularly into asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Kay Boycott, chief executive at Asthma UK, said: “Every 10 seconds someone has a potentially fatal asthma attack, Frighteningly for those with severe asthma, treatments often don’t work so the need for new and effective treatments is urgent.”
Dr Justin Bryans, director, drug discovery, at MRC Technology added: “Our collaboration improves the likelihood that promising research will be translated into potential new patient treatments.
“The funding and support from Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation will enable us to identify innovative science to progress in our own laboratories while AstraZeneca’s expertise is invaluable to get therapies into the clinic.”
Researchers interested in working in the collaboration should visit www.callfortargets.org/respiratory