Cardiff University and Cancer Research UK announce Merck collaboration

Collaboration

Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the technology commercialisation arm of the charity Cancer Research UK, and Cardiff University have agreed a research collaboration with Merck Serono to work on the WNT signalling pathway which is involved in the initiation of a range of cancer types.

The cross-disciplinary, multicentre effort, spanning up to three years, aims to discover inhibitors of the WNT pathway, which is involved in tissue development in embryos and tissue maintenance in adults.  

Mutations in the pathway alter the molecular switches that regulate the WNT pathway, leaving it permanently switched on and resulting in the development of cancer. The collaboration was established by CRT, following work funded by the charity, which set the translational foundations for the programme.

Merck Serono will contribute substantial funding, which will augment existing investment by Cancer Research UK and Cardiff University. This will allow more rapid translation of potential drugs into clinical development. Financial details were not disclosed.