Boehringer Ingelheim establishes translational research collaboration with Harvard University

Boehringer Ingelheim has established a translational research collaboration with the Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College. The goal of the collaboration is for the scientists of Boehringer Ingelheim to work together with the scientific community of Harvard to advance our knowledge in areas of high unmet medical need. The focus of the different research projects is to identify and investigate novel signaling pathways and drug targets in oncology, cardiometabolic, fibrotic and infectious diseases.

Under an agreement negotiated between Boehringer Ingelheim and Harvard’s Office of Technology Development, the collaboration will sponsor a variety of research projects by awarding funds to support proposals selected by a joint research committee comprised of representatives from the Harvard Medical School ICCB-Longwood Screening Facility, various Harvard Affiliated Institutions and Boehringer Ingelheim. The funding will enable the Harvard research community to address several RNAi screening projects using specifically tailored screening systems.

To date, the collaboration has selected and supported eight projects of scientific and educational value in the areas of cancer stem cell survival, replication of detrimental viruses and fibrotic processes. The results of the funded projects will enhance our knowledge in the area of innovative healthcare solutions.

“We are very pleased to sponsor the joint research programs by the distinguished scientists at Harvard in these important fields of medical need” said Dr Adrian Carter, Corporate Vice President of Global Research Networking at Boehringer Ingelheim. He continued, “We believe that this research collaboration with Harvard will help us create new medicines for a variety of important diseases that afflict our society today.”

About Harvard’s Office of Technology Development

The Harvard 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.

About Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.

As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim pledges to act socially responsible. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavors.

In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 13.2 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales.