The new team, Team NIB (New Platform for Next-Generation Intraocular Biologics), has been established at Boehringer Ingelheim's US R&D headquarters in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where XSeed Labs has operated since 2024.
Led by molecular and cell biologist Dr Deniz Ugurlu Cimen, the group will develop a human organotypic in vitro platform designed to improve the discovery and validation of biologics for retinal diseases.
The initiative reflects the pharmaceutical industry's growing investment in advanced human-relevant models as developers seek to reduce reliance on animal testing and improve preclinical research's ability to predict clinical outcomes.
Retinal diseases, including conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, remain among the leading causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide, while treatment options for many patients remain limited.
Team NIB will combine expertise in stem cell biology, biomaterials and microphysiological systems to create three-dimensional human retinal models that more closely replicate the physiological environment of the eye.
According to the partners, the platform is intended to improve translational success by providing a more predictive system for evaluating novel intraocular biologics prior to clinical development.
"By building more predictive human-based models, the collaboration aims to enhance translational success and help bring innovative therapies to patients faster," said Remko Bakker, Global Head of Eye Health and Research Beyond Borders at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Dr Ugurlu Cimen added: “Progress in intraocular therapeutics depends on models that can meaningfully test and challenge new drug designs."
We are building a human in vitro eye model that captures essential physiological features to improve the predictive power of therapeutic discovery, supported by an interdisciplinary approach across biology and engineering.
The expansion marks the latest phase of the partnership between BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim, which established XSeed Labs to embed entrepreneurial academic research teams directly within a pharmaceutical R&D environment.
BioMed X's model is designed to accelerate high-risk, high-reward biomedical research by bringing together scientists from academia and industry to tackle complex drug discovery challenges.
As biologics pipelines continue to expand across ophthalmology, the collaboration highlights a broader industry trend towards integrating advanced human tissue models and organotypic systems into early-stage drug discovery to improve efficiency, reduce development risk and ultimately accelerate the delivery of new therapies to patients.
