Almac and Queen's University Belfast in £4.4m cancer research
collaboration
15 September 2011
An investment of £4.4m in a unique academic-business
collaboration between pharmaceutical development company Almac and
Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB) will help develop better tests for
diagnosing and treating prostate, ovarian and breast cancer.
The research initiative, based at the Centre for Cancer Research
and Cell Biology (CCRCB) at Queen’s, will be led by Professor
Richard Kennedy, one of Almac’s experts in personalised medicine —
which tailors specific treatment to each cancer patient.
Invest Northern Ireland and The McClay Foundation, the charitable
trust established by the late Sir Allen McClay, are partnering to
fund the lab facilities and staff costs. Invest NI has offered the
Almac Group and QUB £1.5 million of support towards the
collaboration, which includes part funding from the European
Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Professor Kennedy, the newly appointed McClay Chair of
Experimental Cancer Medicine at Queen’s University — a joint
appointment with Almac — said the project was an excellent example
of how business and academia could work together in the fight
against cancer, the leading cause of death in Western civilizations.
He explained: “The research will involve using cutting-edge
technology developed by Almac which will allow us to analyse large
numbers of patient tumours collected by Queen’s.
“We will develop these tests to help clinicians to better
understand prostate, ovarian and breast cancer and prescribe the
appropriate treatments tailored to the specific patient. We hope
this will then improve the chances of cure using chemotherapy and
radiotherapy.
“Queen's and Almac will also use this information to design new
therapies that could improve the chances of response and cure for
these cancers in the future. More effective treatments will be good
news for patients and also for reducing the pressure on the
overburdened healthcare system.”
Enterprise Minister for Northern Ireland Arlene Foster said:
“Almac remains at the cutting edge of drug development and delivery
for specific types of cancer and with Invest NI support, has
invested heavily in research projects which have delivered
significant economic benefits and advancements in cancer treatment
worldwide.
“The company is globally respected for its commitment to
innovation and this collaboration project will build upon a
successful and longstanding research relationship between Almac and
Queen’s University, Belfast. Such academic and industrial linkages
are vital to the growth of our economy as they strengthen our
knowledge base and enhance Northern Ireland’s reputation as an
international research and development hub.”