Four medical researchers in Switzerland and Germany are the first in Europe to receive CSL Research Acceleration Initiative partnerships, which include up to $400,000 USD per program over two years. In addition to funding, the long-term mutual partnerships provide access to CSL R&D experts.
The recipients are:
Professor Uyen Huynh-Do, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
Huynh-Do is investigating a serum protein as a potential novel therapeutic for ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) that could benefit patients who have undergone cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation or suffered from ischemic stroke.
Dr. Nicoletta Sorvillo, University of Bern, Switzerland
Sorvillo is exploring the role of citrullination in driving ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). IRI is the tissue or organ damage that results from an interruption and the subsequent restoration of blood supply to tissue. IRI can occur after ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction and after organ transplantation.
Professor Britta Engelhardt, University of Bern, Switzerland
Professor Engelhardt is studying the breakdown of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and is exploring how this may be involved in driving both the symptoms and underlying causes of neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).
Professor Bernd Schmeck, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany
Professor Schmeck is exploring the ability to distinguish and potentially treat subtypes of a serious lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with extracellular vesicles (EVs). COPD is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide.
The CSL Research Acceleration Initiative (RAI) establishes partnerships between CSL and global research organizations to enhance progress toward commercialization of promising discovery programs. CSL, a global biotech that specializes in rare and serious diseases as well as influenza prevention, chose the projects to advance the discovery of innovative biotherapies that address unmet patient needs. CSL’s therapeutic areas are immunology, transplant, respiratory, hematology, cardiovascular/metabolic disease and influenza vaccines.
“Both Germany and Switzerland are known hubs for biomedical research, globally, and we are looking forward to helping transform these ideas into ground-breaking therapies to improve the lives of people living with these conditions,” said Marthe D’Ombrain, CSL’s Head of Global Research Innovation. The 2022 CSL Research Acceleration Initiative will start in January.
