NZ helps develop new therapeutics for bone healing
Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) and Singapore's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), have signed a landmark agreement to identify potent carbohydrate molecules for stem cell development. Ultimately, the research will target the creation of new drugs for bone healing.
Under the agreement, IMCB will provide Industrial Research with carbohydrate molecules which have been identified as being important in the differentiation of stem cells.
Dr Richard Furneaux, a lead scientist in Industrial Research’s chemistry area, says Industrial Research has one of only a few chemistry teams in the world with the expertise to work in this field.
“Stem cell therapies are recognised as the next major leap in the biotechnology race to cure human disease. We saw IMCB as a leader in this field and are thrilled to be starting this major collaboration at the forefront of science.”
Carbohydrate molecules have a unique advantage of allowing stem cells to differentiate outside their natural cell environment. This provides opportunity for Industrial Research to draw on its carbohydrate chemistry expertise to determine the structures for building the synthetic molecules for pre-clinical research and applications.
By replicating the key cells that help regenerate other healthy cells, it will provide scope for researchers to integrate healthy cells into human bone tissue to replace a missing component.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Sector Director Biotechnology, Chris Boalch, says they’ve been happy to support Industrial Research’s work with IMCB.
“The agreement with Industrial Research endorses our view that New Zealand’s biotechnology capabilities are world-class. It is a significant achievement for Industrial Research and also provides a stepping stone for further scientific collaboration between the two countries.”
Professor Sir David Lane, Executive Director of IMCB says he too is delighted to see the collaboration between Singapore and New Zealand come to fruition.
“During my visit to Wellington earlier this year, I learned that two small molecule carbohydrate drugs developed by Industrial Research and their partners were in human clinical trials. We hope that the agreement will help drive our work at IMCB in this direction.”
There is a growing appreciation internationally that carbohydrates play crucial roles in biological systems and Richard Furneaux says this is just one example of a potentially very exciting future in this area.
