Charting the progress from lab bench to patient bedside: MRC research which could lead to treatments in the next 5 years
28 September, 2010
In a new publication released today, The MRC pipeline details a number of MRC-funded research projects and interventions that are on course to improve our health within the next three to five years. From therapies and vaccines recently approved by regulators to products in development and other promising science, the report shows the MRC’s expertise in helping its researchers turn scientific knowledge into new treatments and diagnostics which benefit people in the UK and around the world.
A selection of some of the most promising treatments and interventions already in the MRC pipeline are detailed in the full publication and include:
• Approved by regulators: Cooling treatment for brain damage in babies starved of oxygen, Meningitis vaccine
• In development: Flexi-Scope test that could cut the risk of bowel cancer by a third, Sponge test for Barrett’s Oesophagus
• Early potential: Preliminary trial results that could lead to Ovarian cancer screening, slowing liver damage using warfarin
Between 2006 and 2009, 24 new products and therapies based on MRC research have been launched to market. Since 2006, MRC research has been cited in over 70 international clinical guidelines. The MRC has contributed to the development of over 10 per cent of the worldwide pipeline of therapeutic antibodies, a market that is currently worth $40bn and growing.
The MRC’s translational funding already delivers improved patient care in the practice, with achievements including screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in men over 65 years old, formulation of a new combination drug called Triomune Baby/Junior for HIV-infected children, and a new, non-invasive scanning technique which is being developed to improve surgical treatment of epilepsy.
Dr Chris Watkins, Head of MRC’s translation research, said:
“With our range of funding schemes for speeding up the translation of scientific discoveries, we fund world-class researchers at the critical early stages We help to identify opportunities early and encourage interaction with pharmaceutical and biotech industries in order to turn the highest quality research into tangible health benefits for the whole of society.
“The Medical Research Council delivers significant health benefits for the population by increasing the scale and speed of progress from scientific discovery in the laboratory to clinical developments at the patient bedside.”
The MRC’s translational research strategy has been developed in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and other partners in the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR). Funding streams include:
• Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS)
Supports preclinical development of new therapies, interventions, diagnostics and research tools
• Developmental Clinical Studies (DCS) scheme
Covers clinical developmental research to phase I and II trials, the natural next stage in development
• Experimental medicine through Research Boards and Fellowships
Ongoing research involves nearly 2,500 patients and volunteers taking part in early-stage clinical trials and exploratory studies
• Investing in translational infrastructure
Funding to improve the infrastructure and skills needed for translation, such as the MRC Technology Centre for Therapeutic Discovery
The MRC ‘Pipeline’ is available for download on the MRC website: www.mrc.ac.uk/Utilities/Documentrecord
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