Picture courtesy US DOE Genomics
London Genetics Ltd, an independent company co-owned by the seven partners, will generate and manage partnerships between academic and clinical researchers and the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
The company’s goal is to become the first point of contact for anyone looking to conduct basic research, translational research or clinical studies in London. It aims to speed the transfer of genetic or genomic-based research into clinical benefit, demonstrating the commercial value of genetics.
Funding of £2 million over two years has come from the London Development Agency, and the company aims to cover its costs after this.
A key strength of London Genetics will be its ability to commission multi-centre studies. Using its specialist subject knowledge and extensive networks, the company says it can help customers access large, well characterised, clinical cohorts; translational research; pharmacogenetics; DNA diagnostics and high-throughput genomics. In addition, it has access to cutting edge technologies, research methods and expertise in bioinformatics, data handling and analysis.
The company is headed by Nick Lench, formerly director of the Wales Gene Park in Cardiff, Wales. This is one of six UK Genetics Knowledge Parks, which were created to link academic and clinical expertise and promote commercialisation. Lench will be supported by a scientific advisory board, comprising experts from each of the institutions, that will help identify relevant expertise and spot synergies between the different institutions.
Partners
The partners in London Genetics – King’s College London; University College London, Imperial College London; Queen Mary; St George’s Hospital Medical School; the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and the Institute of Cancer Research – all have existing technology transfer and commercialisation units, covering not just genetics and genomics, but other fields of research. Indeed, Imperial College’s technology transfer arm, Imperial Innovations plc, is a quoted company.
Lench said that London Genetics will not own rights to any intellectual property generated by relationships it brokers, which will reside with the institution or the commercial partners, in line with the terms of the each deal.
Once suitable partners are found he hopes to make it easier and quicker to establish relationships by developing standard contracts.
Although London is home to a number of world class research institutions, not only in biological and medical fields, but across the disciplines, it has not managed to create the sort of cluster effect that has been generated around academic hubs elsewhere. In the past fledgling companies have been forced by high costs to move out of the city and away from their research roots.
Over the past five years the London Development Agency has put in a number of measures to address this, including supporting the construction of high tech incubators. London Genetics is housed currently within Imperial College, but expects to move to offices at the college’s new bioincubator soon.
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