CellCentric and Babraham awarded £900K grant for epigenetics

Grant

Scientists at the Babraham Institute have been awarded £900,000 to further their research in epigenetic regulation, in partnership with CellCentric Ltd, a biotechnology company specialising in the field.

The money will support research between the company and Wolf Reik, Head of Babraham’s Laboratory of Developmental Genetics & Imprinting and inaugural Professor of Epigenetics at Cambridge University.

Celia Caulcott, BBSRC Director of Innovation and Skills, said, “Co-funding with industry is one way of taking forward BBSRC’s world-class science. In strategically important areas such as the processes underlying healthy development and ageing, this helps ensure that research is translated into real benefits for people’s lives and the economy. In addition, the companies gain top flight science that complements their own expertise and tackles specific obstacles to innovation and commercial development.”

Epigenetic mechanisms are at the heart of developmental biology, enabling the fine-tuning of genes and their expression in different places at different times. Epigenetics provides an additional control system that is distinct from the gene sequence yet is also inherited. Faulty epigenetic regulation is implicated in diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease and in obesity. The funding will provide new insight into how such diseases arise and strategies for developing new medicines.

Reik said working with CellCentric has accelerated Babraham’s research towards therapeutic utility. “We look forward to the expanded relationship that should help pioneer new ways to treat intractable diseases.”

The funds will support research into the enzymes involved in epigenetic changes and the identification of small molecules that can alter their activity.

Reflecting the growing importance of epigenetics and the recognition of the potential for commercial translation, last week saw the inaugural meeting of the Cambridge Epigenetics Club, with 200 attendees from institutions and laboratories. The club has support from CellCentric, Qiagen, Pfizer, Diagenode, Illumina, and Millipore, reflecting the growing interest in translating epigenetics into commercial applications, including cancer therapeutics, regenerative medicine and research tools.