Posted Feb. 28, 2017 at 3:39 p.m.
Published: 2017-02-28 15:39:55 Updated: 2017-02-28 15:39:55
By JIM SHAMP, NCBiotech Writer
Raleigh, N.C. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has announced that Pfizer has committed to providing funding in the amount of $4 million which will enable the Center to establish and administer a multi-year academic fellowship program to help advance North Carolinas fast-growing expertise in gene therapy.
The new program, to be managed by NCBiotech, will support distinguished postdoctoral fellowships in North Carolina university research laboratories providing advanced scientific training in gene therapy-related research.
Absent or faulty proteins linked to genetic mutations cause numerous devastating diseases, making gene therapy an increasingly important treatment strategy.
Pfizers portfolio in North Carolina has grown in recent years. The company already operates a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Lee County community of Sanford, and in August 2016, it acquired leading-edge gene therapy company Bamboo Therapeutics, Inc. in Chapel Hill.
With that acquisition, Pfizer gained the expertise of Bamboos world-renowned co-founder, R. Jude Samulski, Ph.D., director of the Gene Therapy Centerat the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The deal also included an 11,000-square-foot facility for the highly specialized manufacturing of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors.
Pfizer is one of several biopharmaceutical companies that have added high-profile gene therapy acquisitions, and several partnerships with biotechnology companies and leading academic institutions, to its R&D portfolio. Numerous other North Carolina scientists and companies are also making significant inroads into gene therapy, gene editing and related applications, many with NCBiotech support. For example, Samulski was recruited to UNC in 1993 as part of a $430,000 NCBiotech grant. Additionally, Bamboos former parent company received more than $700,000 in Biotech Center grants and loans.
Gene therapy advances require specific skills in addition to deep scientific knowledge. The fellowship program being established with Pfizers funding aims to boost that talent pipeline, with talent that has already proven to be exceptional in North Carolina. Such funding will enable NCBiotech to provide two-year fellowship support to postdoctoral scientists. The funding will afford the Center the ability to cover salaries, benefits, materials, professional development and travel for such postdoctoral scientists. The Center will encourage competitive applications from scientists interested in establishing research careers in gene therapy and related research activities.
The Biotech Center will also create and manage a related gene therapy Exchange Group. It will join some 25 other exchange groups designed to unite North Carolina-based academic and industry scientists with shared professional interests. The Gene Therapy EG will include these new postdoctoral fellows, their mentors, and others interested in the burgeoning gene therapy sector.
The field of gene therapy research has made tremendous strides in recent years, and we are pleased to be able to further enhance our leadership position in this area through this unique fellowship program, said Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., president of worldwide research and development at Pfizer. We believe that gene therapy may hold the promise of bringing true disease modification for patients suffering from devastating diseases, and North Carolina is uniquely positioned to help us take advantage of collaborative opportunities that can develop the specialized talent well need.
Doug Edgeton, president and CEO of the Biotech Center, said he was deeply honored that Pfizer targeted North Carolina, and the Center, for the groundbreaking fellowship program.
Pfizer embraced the opportunity to work with us given weve proven for more than 30 years that we have the expertise and success metrics to maximize impact, said Edgeton. We not only have outstanding research institutions across our state, but we also have a well-respected culture of partnering and collaboration that allows us to be nimble and responsive. This is a wonderful example.
(C) N.C. Biotechnology Center
WRAL TechWire any time: Twitter, Facebook
Visit link:
Pfizer commits $4M to NC Biotechnology Center gene therapy ... - WRAL Tech Wire
- About the Gene Therapy Review - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Contribute an Article - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- EBSCO Publishing Deal - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Advertising Opportunities - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Instructions for Authors - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Isis Collaboration With Ortho-McNeil Inc for Metabolic Diseases - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Dystrophin Gene Transfer safe in Duchenne muscular dystrophy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Researchers Identify Gene for Rare Form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Fatal brain cancer tamed by New gene therapy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gene therapy effective in fighting obesity in mice - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Genzyme gene therapy for people with peripheral artery disease failed in a clinical trial to help them regain some mobility - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Gene Therapy May Stall Inherited Emphysema - December 31st, 2009 [December 31st, 2009]
- Gene Therapy and Stem Cells Save Limb - December 31st, 2009 [December 31st, 2009]
- TNVitamins.com – $10 Off Of $50 order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- 15% Off Any PetAlive Order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- At PetAlive – $10 off order of $50 or more - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Native Remedies coupon – 5% Off Any Order - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Native Remedies – Save $5 coupon - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Welcome to the Gene Therapy Review - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Editorial Board - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Gene Therapy Job Board - May 15th, 2011 [May 15th, 2011]
- Corporate Membership - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Native Remedies coupon – 25% Off Any Order - May 29th, 2011 [May 29th, 2011]
- What is Gene Therapy? - June 19th, 2011 [June 19th, 2011]
- Research and Markets: Recent Advances in Cancer Research and Therapy - Increased Research on one of the Major Causes ... - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy part 2 - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene therapy reverses Parkinson's symptoms: study - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- CBS This Morning - Gene therapy reverses Parkinson's symptoms: study - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Engineering adenoviruses for gene therapy - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- What is Gene Therapy (The General Explains) - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- What is Gene Therapy - Animation - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Microbiology Gene Therapy - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy in Detail - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Breakthrough in Haemophilia treatment - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Virology Seminar - Gene Therapy - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Video - Video - April 30th, 2012 [April 30th, 2012]
- Study: Gene Therapy for HIV Safe, But Effectiveness Still Unclear - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Safe in Decade-Long HIV Study That May Widen Use - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Gene therapy for HIV safe, but effectiveness still unclear - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- A Step Forward For Gene Therapy To Treat HIV - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- A Media Event on Clinical Developments in Gene and Cell Therapy - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Families of SMA Awards New Funding to Advance a CNS Delivered Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- AIDS gene therapy safe -- is it a "cure"? - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Generational Achievements in Gene and Cell Therapy Honored at ASGCT 15th Annual Meeting - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Lewis speaks on gene therapy at Lexington Community Education event - May 7th, 2012 [May 7th, 2012]
- Penn researchers report a gene-therapy success - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Gene therapy for hearing loss: Potential and limitations - May 13th, 2012 [May 13th, 2012]
- Gene therapy extends mouse lifespan by 24 pc - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene therapy dramatically extends mouse lifespan - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene therapy may extend life: Study - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- First gene therapy successful against aging-associated decline: Mouse lifespan extended up to 24% with a single ... - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Extends Mouse Lifespan - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy for Brain Disease - May 17th, 2012 [May 17th, 2012]
- Children with rare, incurable brain disease improve after gene therapy - May 17th, 2012 [May 17th, 2012]
- FIRST Anti-Aging Gene Therapy (Brainstorm Ep72) - Video - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- RetroSense Therapeutics Completes pre-IND Meeting for RST-001 - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- Gene therapy can correct forms of severe combined immunodeficiency, study suggests - May 26th, 2012 [May 26th, 2012]
- Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy celebrates 10 years - May 29th, 2012 [May 29th, 2012]
- Research on gene therapy by Prasad Eye - June 1st, 2012 [June 1st, 2012]
- Baxter Announces Collaboration with Chatham Therapeutics for Factor IX Hemophilia B Gene Therapy Treatment - June 5th, 2012 [June 5th, 2012]
- Transgenomic Launches Breakthrough Blood-Based Cancer Gene Testing Technology at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting - June 5th, 2012 [June 5th, 2012]
- Baxter Inks Deal with Chatham - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- PIK3CA Gene Patent for Predicting Response to Targeted Therapy Issued – Exclusively Licensed to Transgenomic - June 11th, 2012 [June 11th, 2012]
- SalutarisMD Announces Positive Case Report of a New Investigational Wet AMD Therapy at ARVO - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Gene Therapy - Global Strategic Business Report - 2012 - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- New York Law Firm’s MesotheliomaHelp.net Site Publishes Interview with Gene Therapy Author - June 17th, 2012 [June 17th, 2012]
- uniQure Extends Collaboration with Protein Sciences Corporation on Use of its expresSF+® Cell Line for Gene Therapy - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Anti-cocaine vaccine described in Human Gene Therapy Journal - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- bluebird bio Receives U.S. and European Orphan Drug Designation for Novel Gene Therapy to Treat Adrenoleukodystrophy - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Close to a cure: Greater Hartford takes on rare Jewish genetic disease - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Gene Therapy Helps Treat Children with Rare Brain Disorder - June 20th, 2012 [June 20th, 2012]
- Gold nanoparticles capable of 'unzipping' DNA - June 21st, 2012 [June 21st, 2012]
- ‘Gene-silencing’ drug can halt and reverse deadly brain disorder - June 21st, 2012 [June 21st, 2012]
- uniQure Collaborates with UCSF on GDNF Gene Therapy in Parkinson's Disease - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Gene-silencing method offers possible therapy for Huntington's disease - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Gene mutations cause massive brain asymmetry - June 24th, 2012 [June 24th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Translational Regenerative Medicine - Oncology, CNS and Cardiovascular-Rich Pipeline Features ... - June 25th, 2012 [June 25th, 2012]
- Stress Blocks Gene That Guards Brain Against Depression - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- Targeted gene therapy enhances treatment for Pompe disease - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]