Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) has inked a pact with the Cambridge University for collaborative research. Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Professor Satyajit Mayor Dean of NCBS and Professor Jyotsna Dhawan,  Dean of inStem, have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a collaborative initiative in therapeutics and translational sciences.

The initiative will be spearheaded by Professor Ashok Venkitaraman, The Ursula Zoellner Professor of Cancer Research, University of Cambridge and Director, Medical Research Council - Cancer Cell Unit.

“Despite the explosive recent increase in our understanding of the genetic basis for human diseases, there has not yet been a commensurate increase in the translation of this information to the development of new medicines. There is now a window of opportunity during which a strategic initiative to pioneer innovative new approaches in this area is likely to provide significant long-term competitive advantages to biomedical researchers in India, with important future benefits for the health and wealth of the nation,” Professor Venkitaraman stated.

Professor K VijayRaghavan, officiating director of inStem and the director of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) said, “We view this very important collaboration as mutually beneficial and an example of how the best in basic research can address important biomedical questions.”

inStem is taking a new path of collaborative, team-driven efforts to address the most challenging of biomedical problems. The NCBS-inStem campus provides an ideal intellectual environment for this collaboration with Cambridge to succeed. inStem is committed to the success of this joint programme, approved by its Governing Council and its Chair, Dr M K Bhan, secretary, Department of Biotechnology.

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, vice-chancellor of Cambridge University said, “Cambridge and the Tata Institute, of which NCBS is a part, have a long history of connections. TIFR’s founder Homi Bhabha studied and worked in Cambridge, as have many NCBS and inStem faculty.”

“We have heard  much about the excellence of biology in the NCBS-inStem campus and  look forward to see  this important MoU. Cambridge will do all it can to facilitate the success of this effort, he added.

Apart from generating new fundamental knowledge about biological systems involved in human diseases, the initiative will also serve to strengthen links between the University of Cambridge and India in the fields of biomedical and health research.