Cancer Research UK’s commercial unit Cancer Research Technology (CRT) has signed an agreement with the University of Birmingham and its commercial division Alta Innovations (Alta) to work in collaboration to develop and commercialise the university’s cancer research.
The two-year agreement is focused on speeding up commercialisation of the University of Birmingham’s major cancer research into diagnostics, treatments and technologies that can benefit patients.
University of Birmingham college of medical and dental sciences head David Adams said: “Bringing Alta and CRT together in this way means we are giving our world-class cancer researchers access to a team of people with the right skills to give their ideas the fastest route to having an impact on patients’ lives.”
Under the deal, Alta will work in close cooperation with the scientists at the university with an aim to recognise most promising cancer research opportunities.
CRT, on the other hand, will use its expertise to commercialise cancer research and its vast network across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in order to identify and translate promising research at the university.
Alta Innovations CEO Dr James Wilkie said: “Combining the skills that Alta and CRT have built up over many years will allow our researchers to accelerate the development of their world-leading ideas and patients will benefit from these being brought to market more quickly.”
CRT will work with Alta and the University of Birmingham’s academics in a bid to promising cancer opportunities, along with the major clinical expertise available and the university’s primary research in areas such as immunology and genomics.
The financial benefits received from the research will be shared between CRT and the University of Birmingham.
CRT will use its financial returns to invest in Cancer Research UK’s life-saving research, while the University of Birmingham will be used for the benefit of the educational charity.
