Research Showcase launches new collaboration to accelerate translation of more predictive research models in drug discovery

Medicines Discovery Catapult and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) announce strategic collaboration to accelerate the translation of more predictive in vitro research models into new products and services 

Today [9 November] Medicines Discovery Catapult and the NC3Rs have announced a strategic collaboration combining research and industry expertise to accelerate the translation of research models into new products and services, supporting the replacement, refinement and reduction of the use of animals in research (3Rs).

The collaboration launches today with the NC3Rs Tools to Technologies (T2T) Research Showcase. Hosted by Medicines Discovery Catapult, the event will see 11 research groups compete for a share of £200k in grant funding from NC3Rs, matched with in-kind support by the Medicines Discovery Catapult.

The winning NC3R-funded researchers will then have access to Medicines Discovery Catapult’s drug discovery expertise and rapidly developing suite of cutting-edge research technologies to accelerate translation of their research models into new products and services. 

Winners will be announced in Spring 2019 following an independent review process.

The purpose of the collaboration is to identify projects that support the development of new 3Rs approaches and technologies, and translate these into new products and services accessible to the wider drug discovery community. 

It is vital that early drug discovery researchers are provided with tools more reflective of human biology for basic and applied science. These more predictive models will allow greater success of potential drugs in the clinic and better treatment options for patients.