MILNER THERAPEUTICS INSTITUTE UPDATES 2024

We also celebrated the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB). The agreement will enable KRIBB to discuss establishing a European research outpost here in Cambridge and will focus on bringing together experts in cell and gene therapy, organoid screening and AI-enabled drug discovery. Read more here » 

We were delighted to expand our Frame Shift bio-incubator this year, launching a second hub in the Cambridge city centre. Shift Bioscience moved to the new premises late last year, allowing them to grow and secure further funding before they move to their own lab space in the near future. Read more here »

Finally, the Milner Consortium – which has been active since 2015 – will go through its second five-year renewal this summer. To date, this has led to >40 collaborations between academics and pharma partners, with a research investment of >£12 million. Looking forward, we are excited about the combined expertise that our pharma partners will bring across key themes including neuroscience, immunology and oncology to create synergistic collaboration opportunities with academics here in Cambridge. Read more here » 

USE THE BUTTONS BELOW TO EXPLORE OUR 2023/2024 UPDATES:

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND METRICS

• Expand our institute’s capabilities to drive commercial and academic collaboration.

• Support start-ups through our Frame Shift bio-incubator and affiliated venture partner network.

• Promote an entrepreneurial and cross sector collaborative culture in Cambridge.

• Discover new drug targets and work with clinicians and pharma to ensure benefit to patients.

• Create mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and pharma companies in the Milner Therapeutics Consortium.

• Support organizations globally to adopt and build on demonstrated models of success.

ENTREPRENEURS AND VENTURE CAPITAL

MILNER INSTITUTE IN-HOUSE RESEARCH

In the Milner Institute, we are developing our own research programme and target discovery pipeline. The methods and approaches we are fostering are disease-agnostic and we are currently applying these in oncology, respiratory disease, metabolic disorders, infectious disease, inflammatory bowel disease and CNS diseases.

DISEASE SIGNATURE INTERROGATION

The Target Discovery Team, led by Dr Erica Bello, focuses on the optimisation of complex cellular or patient-derived disease models to identify clinically relevant, high confidence targets for disease therapy. Working in collaboration with academics and clinicians in Cambridge and beyond who have expertise in specific disease areas (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, lung development and cancer biology) and who have developed biologically relevant cell-based models, the team strive to lower the barriers associated with adoption of these complex disease models into functional genomics and drug discovery workflows. The team combine academic discovery with industry rigour to establish robust models and screening outputs that will generate commercial interest and meet end-user needs. Several projects involve working with academics outside of Cambridge as part of the NC3Rs Technologies-to-Tools programme and in educating future scientists through the School of Biological Sciences MPhil programme. The Target Discovery team also collaborate with the Computational Research team to effectively interpret and interrogate datasets and will collaborate with the new Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory team to share best practice in the development and scaling of complex in vitro models for arrayed CRISPR screens. Read more about the Target Discovery Team »

DISEASE SIGNATURE IDENTIFICATION THROUGH AI

The aim of our computational research and artificial intelligence team, led by Dr Namshik Han, is to create an atlas of disease mechanisms through the integration and interrogation of large multi-modal datasets, including multi-omics. The team are using bespoke machine learning methods to identify new signatures of disease and therapeutic targets, as well as graph-based algorithms to gain a deep understanding of the underlying causes of disease. The team have an established track record of collaboration with industry (e.g. GSK, AstraZeneca and Storm Therapeutics) and drug discovery partners (e.g. through a renewed partnership with LifeArc and also with Cancer Research Horizons/CRUK Cambridge Centre) through which they have developed and validated methodology with clear applications in drug discovery. The team works closely with researchers and clinicians in Cambridge and internationally (Europe, USA, and South Korea) who have unique patient datasets and disease models. It is this sharing of cross-sector expertise that ensures results are biologically interpretable and can inform go/no go decision making in drug discovery. The team’s approaches have been applied to target identification, validation, prioritisation and repositioning/repurposing, as well as biomarker discovery, and are applicable across many areas of healthcare including early detection and personalised medicine. Read more about the Computational Research and Artificial Intelligence Team »

THE MRC-AZ-UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE JOINT FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS SCREENING LABORATORY (FGSL)

JOINT ASTRAZENECA–CANCER RESEARCH HORIZONS
FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS CENTRE

The Functional Genomics Centre (FGC) was established in 2019 as a collaboration between AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK’s (CRUK) drug discovery engine Cancer Research Horizons to build a centre focused on developing and applying genetic screening in the field of oncology. Based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute, the FGC is developing novel CRISPR technologies to better understand the biology of cancer, creating biological models that may be more reflective of human disease and advancing computational approaches to better analyse big datasets. The mission of the FGC is to use these technologies to deliver projects to AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK scientists that will:

• Increase our understanding of the basic biology of cancer
• Identify novel target opportunities for therapeutics
• Understanding drug resistance in order to support patient stratification or better treatment combination options.

With 34 projects completed across the collaboration and a portfolio of 37 active projects on-going the value of these two organisations coming together to create the FGC is now being demonstrated.

JOINT ASTRAZENECA–CANCER RESEARCH HORIZONS
FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS CENTRE

The Functional Genomics Centre (FGC) was established in 2019 as a collaboration between AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK’s (CRUK) drug discovery engine Cancer Research Horizons to build a centre focused on developing and applying genetic screening in the field of oncology. Based at the Milner Therapeutics Institute, the FGC is developing novel CRISPR technologies to better understand the biology of cancer, creating biological models that may be more reflective of human disease and advancing computational approaches to better analyse big datasets. The mission of the FGC is to use these technologies to deliver projects to AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK scientists that will:

• Increase our understanding of the basic biology of cancer
• Identify novel target opportunities for therapeutics
• Understanding drug resistance in order to support patient stratification or better treatment combination options.

With 34 projects completed across the collaboration and a portfolio of 37 active projects on-going the value of these two organisations coming together to create the FGC is now being demonstrated.

A world-leading centre of expertise in genetic screens, cancer models, CRISPR vector design and computational approaches to big data, whose goal is to identify novel targets and resistance mechanisms to create new cancer medicines.

Our Technology Development is focused on creating small and better libraries, which will allow us to probe models of increasing complexity, such as human primary immune cells and patient derived organoids. Another focus is the implementation of assays to study more complex phenotypes, such as the modulation of gene expression signatures and protein abundancies enabled by single cell RNA sequencing and FACS sorting. All development is co-owned and so is free to flow back into either organisation, democratising access to this powerful technology. The Milner Therapeutics Institute provides a unique collaborative space and environment on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which is convenient for both AstraZeneca and Cancer Research Horizons.

Our Technology Development is focused on creating small and better libraries, which will allow us to probe models of increasing complexity, such as human primary immune cells and patient derived organoids. Another focus is the implementation of assays to study more complex phenotypes, such as the modulation of gene expression signatures and protein abundancies enabled by single cell RNA sequencing and FACS sorting. All development is co-owned and so is free to flow back into either organisation, democratising access to this powerful technology. The Milner Therapeutics Institute provides a unique collaborative space and environment on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus which is convenient for both AstraZeneca and Cancer Research Horizons.

MILNER THERAPEUTICS CONSORTIUM

The Consortium has been active since June 2015 and is based on a research agreement signed by three academic centres in Cambridge — the University of Cambridge, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Babraham Institute — and pharmaceutical companies. During the past year, our 14 pharma partners have included Astellas, Astex, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Eli Lilly and Company, Ferring, GSK, Janssen R&D, MSD, Pfizer, Shionogi and Takeda.

Our pharma partners work through an Innovation Board to solve therapeutic challenges across the broad spectrum of human disease. Many have research and development interests that overlap, enabling them to propose common research themes related to targets, technologies and therapeutic areas that could be ideal for pre-competitive projects. These themes are explored through challenge-led workshops and are also an essential part of our annual Consortium Call, launched in 2021, whereby academics can suggest potential projects that would provide mutual benefit to both the academic and pharma. Outside of the Consortium Call, the Milner continues to work with each company to identify academics working in research areas that are of specific interest to them.

There have been >40 Consortium projects across 17 Departments and Institutes of the University, the Babraham and the Sanger to date, involving an investment of >£12 million by nine of our industry partners. The projects are broad in remit and can include access to compounds, datasets, equipment or know-how in a particular technique. In some cases, an industry scientist has come to work in the academic’s lab, and in others an academic post has been funded specifically for the project. The emphasis in all our collaborations is on mutual sharing of expertise. Read more on the Consortium webpage » 

GLOBAL THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE

Affiliated Research Institutions

The Global Therapeutic Alliance, led by Dr Alison Schuldt, aims to build a global research community working together across academia and industry, with Cambridge providing a hub of expertise. The Milner Therapeutics Consortium is central to this aim, and the Affiliated Company and Affiliated Research Institutions scheme brings complementary expertise and resources to the community, and provides opportunities to extend collaborative links within and beyond Cambridge.

The annual Milner Therapeutics Symposium is a key event for bringing our network together and building new collaborations. This is complemented by the Milner seminar series, smaller workshops and partnering events on industry prioritised research topics. These have led to new collaborative projects, successful academic–industry funding applications for shared equipment and investment of industry into biotech.

MILNER ENTREPRENEURSHIP

From training and fully-serviced lab space in our bio-incubator, to growth education through the Founders Growth Community, the Milner Institute offers skills, resources, and strategic connections throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

FRAME SHIFT BIO-INCUBATOR

Our Frame Shift Bio-incubator provides unique space for start-ups and SMEs to work side-by-side with other start-ups, pharma and academic scientists in an ecosystem physically and culturally designed to spark collaboration and entrepreneurship. Frame Shift has a particular focus on R&D intensive companies working in areas related to the institute’s expertise (e.g. functional genomics, early target discovery, therapeutics).

Companies usually join Frame Shift as a team of 1-3 people and stay with us for 18-24 months. During this time, many successfully secure grants, seed and Series A funding, enabling their teams to expand and move out to other premises by the time their teams have exceeded 8 people in the Milner.

At the end of last year our Frame Shift Bio–incubator expanded, with the opening of a second hub in Cambridge city centre. The Frame Shift – City Centre hub will allow further growth for selected companies before they secure further funding and move to their own lab space. The first company to move across to the Frame Shift – City Centre hub is Shift Bioscience.

BIO-SPARK ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMME

We support early career scientists through engagement with the Bio-spark entrepreneurial education programme, which provides support for such early-stage scientists, including but not limited to those engaged in a PhD or Postdoc. Bio-spark provides mentorship by inspirational individuals, gives the opportunity to sample different company environments, and provides mentorship that may lead to the formation of companies. This programme gives a unique set of early career scientists tools to progress in business and entrepreneurship.

START CODON VENTURE BUILDER

Start Codon is a venture-building fund that Discovers, Nurtures, and Advances next-generation healthcare and life science companies. Start Codon doesn’t just invest, the team becomes invested; in the people, the ideas, and in working together to build successful, data-driven ‘TechBio’ ventures with the potential to address unmet needs and positively impact lives.

Alongside pre-seed funding of £250,000, the team works hand-in-hand with founders, providing bespoke support through their innovative START Programme. The dedicated team also provides a combination of business support services, expertise, and access to an extensive network of industry-leading pharma, biotech, and venture capital executives. This combination helps founders to build and accelerate their company and increase their chances of success.

Since its first investment in April 2020, Start Codon, led by Dr Jason Mellad (CEO and Co-Founder) and Daniel Rooke (COO and Co-Founder), the team has amassed a portfolio of 26 companies, founded across the UK. Start Codon successfully raised its £15m venture fund with key strategic partners, including the Milner Therapeutics Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Genentech/Roche, Novartis, Meltwind (Jonathan Milner), and Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority, as well as a wider network of leading commercial organisations including legal, finance and IP experts.

Start Codon also became a founding supporter of the inaugural Diverse Directors Programme in 2023, headed up by Start Codon Talent Director, Emma Plowman with her Co-Founder Emma Thorp. The programme is designed to address the diversity gap at senior levels of life science boardrooms, and has already completed a successful pilot.

Cancer Research Horizons and Start Codon have also co-developed an entrepreneurial training programme to educate the multidisciplinary oncology research community about company formation, operations, and fundraising.

The venture-building seed fund deploys capital and supports ambitious founders all year round, so aspiring founders and early-stage life science companies are encouraged to contact the team via the Start Codon website » 

CONNECT: HEALTH TECH

Connect: Health Tech is the gateway into the University’s life sciences and health tech community bringing together disciplines, expertise and knowledge for societal impact.

They join the dots between medicine and technology across the Cambridge ecosystem and beyond: making connections, fostering collaborations and catalysing ideas between biomedical research, cutting-edge technology and clinical need to accelerate the design, development and testing of health technologies for real-world applications.

Powered by a global online community, Connect: Health Tech provides the navigation tools and accessibility to sector knowledge and expertise: increasing interaction between health tech researchers, knowledge facilitators, entrepreneurs and clinicians so they can connect and collaborate across disciplines and sectors with common aims.

The platform elevates knowledge-exchange on health tech topics, amplifies the reach of events and funding opportunities, enhances the search for relevant research partners and enables existing networks to come together in one digital space.

WHY ENGAGE?

• Join a community with over 2000 members across 49 countries.
• 60% of our membership would recommend Connect: Health Tech to a colleague or friend.
• Connect with like-minded professionals: researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, knowledge facilitators and entrepreneurship
• Use our mobile app, so you can have access and engage wherever you are!
• Be a part of a like-minded community working on areas such as: healthcare innovation design; machine learning; drug discovery and development in industry; multi-omics methodologies; translational neuroscience

Our community members gain value through knowledge-exchange, making useful connections and discovering the great wealth of events taking place across the ecosystem.

Organisations use the platform to run innovation and accelerator programmes – speak to the team to find out more.

• Share knowledge across disciplines in health tech challenge spaces
• Join collaborative networks to access specific support
• Engage with exclusive content from health tech leaders
• Discover jobs and find funding opportunities
• Explore relevant training and events

Join the C:HT community here »  

OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

• View our Milner Institute Team Members
• View the Milner Innovation Board
• View the Milner Governance Board

OUR RESEARCH FUNDERS