University of Glasgow and AstraZeneca to collaborate in immunology research

The University of Glasgow has agreed an ambitious new research collaboration with AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical business, in the area of immunology and inflammation medicine. The goal of the three-year collaboration is to identify new pathways by which inflammation can promote diseases and ultimately create better medicines for patients. The Respiratory, Inflammation, Autoimmunity Medicines Unit at AstraZeneca is establishing the 'GLAZgo Discovery Unit' which will be fully embedded within the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Glasgow. The GLAZgo Discovery Unit will deliver substantial investment to support 10 full-time staff and PhD students, as well as two-way secondments between the university and AstraZeneca. By integrating teams fully we aim to create a truly innovative and collaborative atmosphere which will help achieve scientific leadership, develop new drug programmes, and inform existing AstraZeneca programmes. The collaboration plays to the strengths of both partners - the University of Glasgow excels in linking basic science to understanding disease pathology, and AstraZeneca brings expertise in drug discovery and development. It is expected to attract grant funding from Scottish, UK and European sources and continued long-term, strategic support from AstraZeneca.