On March 28, 2016 The University of California (UC) Berkeley, in collaboration with Aduro Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADRO), reported the launch of an innovative Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Research Initiative (IVRI) (Press release, Aduro BioTech, MAR 28, 2016, View Source [SID:1234510057]). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! IVRI is UC Berkeley’s first-ever immunotherapy-focused initiative and, in partnership with Aduro, will combine UC Berkeley’s extensive research capabilities with the company’s expertise in immunotherapy discovery and development to identify and advance new treatment options and preventive modalities for cancer, infectious disease and autoimmune disease.
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IVRI is designed to explore the unique synergy between cancer and infectious disease research and to accelerate breakthrough discoveries in both areas. IVRI researchers are working closely with collaborators and sponsors with the shared goal of discovering and advancing immunotherapeutics and vaccine strategies.
"In the last several years, we have learned so much about the role of the immune system in treating disease, and we look forward to harnessing that information across both research and industry to develop innovative new treatment options to improve patient care," said David Raulet, Faculty Director of the IVRI and a Professor of Immunology and Pathogenesis at University of California, Berkeley. "Through this initiative, we will leverage our powerful research networks to understand how we can better engage the immune system in treating cancer, infectious disease and autoimmune disease. By doing this, we hope to develop new methods for targeting and effectively controlling many different cancers, autoimmune and infectious diseases. Our goal is for these findings to pave the way for the development of innovative new treatment options."
Aduro Biotech, a leading immunotherapy company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapies that transform the treatment of challenging diseases, is IVRI’s founding partner. Aduro will provide UC Berkeley with $7.5 million in research funding over the next three years, with an option for Aduro to increase and extend funding for up to an additional three years. As part of research projects, researchers at UC Berkeley will also have the opportunity to access the company’s novel technology platforms including LADD, STING Pathway Activators and B-select monoclonal antibodies, which are designed to harness the body’s natural immune system.
"Through this unique collaboration, there is tremendous opportunity to improve our understanding of the immune system’s potential to serve as an important weapon in treating cancer and infectious disease," said Stephen T. Isaacs, chairman, president and CEO of Aduro Biotech. "By combining UC Berkeley’s leading research and academic resources with innovative technology platforms, such as those developed by Aduro, we are confident that this initiative will lead to an improved understanding of, and potential treatments for, some of the most devastating diseases."
The IVRI officially launched with a reception on March 24, 2016 at the UC Berkeley campus, which featured remarks from James P. Allison, Chair of Immunology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, David Raulet, Faculty Director, IVRI, as well as Stephen Isaacs of Aduro. On March 25, 2016, a full day symposium on the topic "Harnessing the Immune System to Fight Cancer and Infectious Diseases" was hosted on the campus. The symposium featured a dynamic list of invited speakers from around the country, including Lasker Award winner James P. Allison, Director of the Emory University Vaccine Center, Rafi Ahmed, and Aduro’s Chief Scientific Officer, Thomas J. Dubensky, Jr. The symposium also featured a scientific poster session including presentations of basic and translational science in infectious diseases, immunology or immuno-oncology.
About Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Research Initiative (IVRI)
The immune system is nature’s most powerful weapon against disease. Whether introduced to the host from the environment, arising endogenously or stemming from a dysfunction of the immune system itself, diseases are impacted by immune functions, and the immune response can be targeted for therapy. It is our vision that a fundamental understanding of immune recognition, cellular interactions and other elements of the immune system has high potential to lead to meaningful advancements in the treatment of many diseases.
The IVRI is envisioned as a center for research to develop mechanistic understanding and application of immunology, pathogenesis and vaccinology with the potential to profoundly impact the treatment of human disease. The initiative is founded on the principle that research that uncovers how the immune system controls infectious disease yields new approaches for treating cancer, and conversely, that studies of cancer immunology yield approaches for vaccines and therapies targeting infectious disease. UC Berkeley has an impressive record in this endeavor including advances that have led to cancer immunotherapeutics and novel vaccines. The IVRI will expand on and accelerate these advances by coordinating and directing the efforts of UC Berkeley researchers, their collaborators and sponsors towards ground-breaking discoveries, and the development of creative new applications in disease prophylaxis and treatment. The IVRI will facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers, streamline access to scientific and financial resources and promote not only the vision, ideas and accomplishments of its scientists, but also the translation of these ideas and findings for the development of new therapies for human diseases. By targeting synergies in the expertise and capabilities of its scientists and unifying their ingenuity with the objectives of its sponsors, the IVRI seeks to maximize the potential of its UC Berkeley researchers and accelerate the pace of discovery and translation.