University College London has linked arms with The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, in a pact to accelerate the development of advanced therapies in the country.
The groups plan to maximise and further promote scientific collaboration in the field of advanced therapies, so that the UK can develop its standing as a centre for research and manufacture in gene therapy, stem cell therapy and tissue engineering.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed recognising the great promise such therapies hold in preventing and treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer or muscular dystrophy.
As part of the agreement NIBSC and UCL will collaborate and share knowledge and resources to help support the development of safe and effective advanced therapies.
“Advanced therapies such as stem cell treatments have huge potential in directly targeting and treating a range of conditions,” said Professor Mary Collins head of the Advanced Therapies unit at NIBS, noting that “closer working with University College London will greatly help to take forward studies that focus on therapeutic areas of gene and cell therapies”.
