DALLAS: Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and London’s GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK) have teamed up to launch a new “SBP-GSK Center for Translational Neuroscience.”
The new center, located on the medical research Institute’s campus in La Jolla, CA will bring together staff from Sanford Burnham and GSK to investigate factors that influence brain function and potentially reverse or slow down neurodegeneration–such as that seen in dementia–with the ultimate aim of finding new drug targets.
The two already have history, as SBP’s CEO Perry Nisen used to be senior VP of science and innovation at GSK. Nisen’s move in 2014 was in fact the start of the Institute’s new strategy to become the “partner of choice” for drugmakers as it looks to move more deeply in drug discovery. It has also in the past two years signed research deals with Eli Lilly ($LLY) and Daiichi Sankyo.
This also fits in with GSK’s “R&D Satellite” hub in La Jolla, which was set up last year with the intent to find, fund and fuel scientific research that will lead to new and innovative medicines for patients. The Satellite focuses on creating and nurturing collaborative relationships in San Diego and all along the West coast’s vibrant academic, biotech and venture communities.
Under the new 3-year agreement, GSK will provide funding to create and support a research laboratory. Staffed by SBP scientists, postdoctoral candidates and technicians working alongside neuroscientists from GSK, the center will be designed to bolster research dedicated to translational neuroscience. Financial details were not disclosed…