CRMI, University of Oxford and CCB collaborate to industrialise biomedical research results
Co-operation is seen as a bridge for scientific exchange between China and the UK
China Regenerative Medicine International (CRMI) has jointly entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the CCBI-CRMI Technology Centre at the University of Oxford with the University of Oxford and CCB International.
Early in 2014, CRMI and the University of Oxford established the first CRMI regenerative medicine industry R&D Centre to focus on major unmet clinical needs such as diabetes, cancer, neural degeneration and organ repair using stem cell therapy.
According to the MOU, CCBI will provide £1.5m of project funding to the Centre to accelerate research and its translation into treatments, and improve its operating and training capabilities. The three parties will co-operate to establish a strategic platform for the translation and commercialisation of biomedical research, particularly in regenerative medicine.
CCBI will provide assistance in the capital market of up to RMB60bn to support the translation and industrialisation of cutting edge research outcomes and promising projects. The new tripartite co-operation, with CCBI’s participation, will ensure adequate funding for the industrialisation of R&D results to accelerate its R&D capabilities.
The CCBI-CRMI Technology Centre at the University of Oxford is part of the Oxford Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), directed by Professor Zhanfeng Cui, who is the Donald Pollock Professor of Chemical Engineering at Oxford and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. CRMI is the third enterprise to set up such a research and development technology centre that is sponsored by enterprise and undertaking research at the University of Oxford.
IBME is part of the Department of Engineering Science, which hosts all three Technology Centres (Rolls-Royce and Invensys support the other two). Mr Zhengkang Shao, CEO of CRMI, said: ‘Being an innovative high-tech enterprise, CRMI always uses technological research and development as the foundation of corporate development. For years, we have relentlessly invested in scientific research. This co-operation not only establishes an international R&D network for CRMI, but also provides training opportunities for scientific researchers in China.’
Professor Zhanfeng Cui stated: ‘The UK has always occupied a leading position in the field of stem cell research. We are always keen to translate this research into clinical applications. The co-operation between CRMI, CCBI and the University of Oxford will boost translational and regenerative medicine and the outcomes will benefit both the UK and China.’
