AstraZeneca has announced that it has entered into a collaboration with the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Cambridge Institute to temporarily locate up to 60 AstraZeneca scientists in the Institute.
The CRUK Cambridge Institute, part of the University of Cambridge, is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the future site of AstraZeneca's UK-based global strategic research and development centre and corporate headquarters.
AstraZeneca researchers will work alongside counterparts at the CRUK Cambridge Institute's state-of-the-art laboratories for up to three years. The move will help to accelerate the integration of the company's scientists into the Cambridge scientific community ahead of the anticipated opening of the new headquarters in 2016. The co-location of researchers will also support the existing projects between AstraZeneca, the CRUK Cambridge Institute and other organisations including the University of Cambridge Department of Oncology, the MRC Cancer Unit and Addenbrooke's Hospital on a number of clinical and pre-clinical oncology projects.
Susan Galbraith, Head of AstraZeneca's Oncology Innovative Medicines Unit said, "We're thrilled with this early opportunity to join the vibrant Cambridge biomedical community. This will enable AstraZeneca and CRUK Cambridge Institute scientists to work side-by-side, sharing their respective world-class oncology expertise and building on the momentum of our existing research in this vital area."
Professor Simon Tavaré, Director of the CRUK Cambridge Institute, welcomed the opportunity for further connections with AstraZeneca. "The CRUK Cambridge Institute is keen to develop new research directions with pharma and biotech," he noted.
Professor Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and head of the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine said, "This is a tremendous opportunity for scientists to learn from one another and potentially take that knowledge into all stages of cancer research. We have an open innovation approach at the campus with a range of companies who have a presence on the site and we are delighted to welcome AstraZeneca during this interim period and look forward to sharing our facilities and expertise."
Oncology is one of three core therapeutic areas for AstraZeneca and the CRUK Cambridge Institute, part of the Cambridge Cancer Centre, is the largest single facility conducting cancer research in the University of Cambridge.
Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, Innovative Medicines & Early Development at AstraZeneca said: "In choosing to locate one of our three global R&D centres at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus we have made a clear statement of intent about putting science at the heart of everything we do. That's why this early collaboration with the CRUK Cambridge Institute is so exciting, as it represents another step in our efforts to create a permeable research infrastructure, building strong relationships with the vibrant bioscience community in the city as we work on developing the innovative medicines of the future."
About the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute
The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI) aims to bring the scientific strengths of Cambridge to bear on practical questions of cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention. The Institute focuses specifically on the practical application of high-quality basic research, forming a bridge between the world-class science of the University of Cambridge and its environment, Addenbrooke's Hospital, and other institutes and departments on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. For more information please visit: www.cruk.cam.ac.uk
About the Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Located at the heart of Europe's leading commercial biotechnology cluster, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus combines world-class biomedical research, patient care and education on a single site. Now undergoing a major expansion which includes the location of companies alongside the thriving community of academics and healthcare professionals, the Campus is on track to becoming one of the leading biomedical centres in the world by 2020. For more information please visit: www.cambridge-biomedical.com
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, inflammation, autoimmune, oncology, infection and neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information please visit: www.astrazeneca.com