Press Releases
Harvard University Announces Major Collaboration to Advance Pioneering Stem Cell Research
=Translational Research Program to Focus on Use of Stem Cells for Drug Discovery=
Reflects Harvard’s Commitment to Drive Innovation and Develop New Therapies
Cambridge, MA, December 08, 2009 - Harvard University today announced that its Office of Technology Development has concluded a large-scale multi-year sponsored research agreement with Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research to advance an innovative line of research focused on the use of stem cells for drug discovery.
Under terms of the Agreement, Harvard and Novartis will collaborate and Novartis will support ongoing research in the laboratory of Lee Rubin Ph.D., Director of Translational Medicine at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). Dr. Rubin, a recognized leader in the field, is deeply involved in the development of novel assays using cells derived from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to identify new targets and pathways implicated in human disease. In addition to research funding, Harvard will receive certain defined preclinical and clinical milestone payments if a drug is advanced into commercial development.
"I am delighted by the collaboration with Novartis”, said Isaac T. Kohlberg, Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development Officer, who heads Harvard's Office of Technology Development Office. “It exemplifies Harvard’s continuing commitment to engage with industry in creative ways in order to ensure that innovations developed by our faculty can advance rapidly into clinical development, and hopefully, improve human health and patient care”.
This is the first research collaboration between Harvard and Novartis in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine.
“We are very excited about the collaboration with Novartis, an ideal partner for the application of stem cell science for drug discovery”, said Dr. Rubin. “The collaboration will advance our understanding of this very important emerging field, and creates a unique opportunity to develop a new generation of therapies that will one day impact the practice of clinical medicine”.
About Harvard University’s Office of Technology Development
Harvard's Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for all activities pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new inventions and discoveries made at Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. OTD also serves to further the development of Harvard technologies through the establishment of sponsored research collaborations with industry. OTD’s mission is to promote the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard into useful products available and beneficial to society.