Setting the expectations
The Babraham Institute undertakes innovative biomedical research to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how, over lifetime, their failure or abnormality may lead to disease. Our work is sponsored by a core grant from the BBSRC with additional competitively won grant income from the Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), medical charities, commercial collaborators and other organizations. Where the knowledge generated from the Institute’s research has potential for application, our scientists work with clinicians or with companies to translate the research into action for social and economic benefit.
By its nature, the Institute’s research is not immediately close to application and timescales to reveal opportunities for translation can be lengthy, requiring years of focused and evolving research effort. For instance, licensing royalty income from Abgenix Inc. only came on stream in 2007 following a patent obtained in 1988 jointly with the MRC involving expression of humanized antibodies in mice. This technology has led to the company developing a therapeutic product to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (Vectibix TM –the first fully human anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody).
Details of research translation activities since 2001 through commercial and medically-related collaborations by Institute scientists are listed here. Web pages outlining how each of our Laboratories is currently working towards translation of research findings can be found by following these links:
Developmental Genetics & Imprinting
Chromatin & Gene Expression
Lymphocyte Signalling & Development
Molecular Signalling
Inositide
