From Targeted Therapeutics to Next-Generation Medicines

医疗保健创新的需求是EPSRC的一个关键优先事项，认识到改善英国公民的健康需要在诊断和治疗的基础科学和技术方面进行逐步改变。合作研究，连接工程，物理和生命科学在学术界和工业界，并由研究委员会的支持，一直是建立英国制药行业仅次于美国的新药发现的关键因素。在本提案中，我们对英国第一个由行业联合资助的制药科学博士培训中心（DTC）--EPSRC/阿斯利康靶向治疗博士培训中心进行了扩展和增强。靶向治疗DTC的前四年已经与阿斯利康成功建立了20个新的合作博士课程，27篇论文，专利或会议贡献，35个新的培训项目和一个充满活力的多学科研究学生社区。自2006年以来，与靶向治疗相关的赠款共计1510万美元，已授予DTC项目负责人，43名主要研究人员目前正在诺丁汉大学和阿斯利康的四个地点共同工作。为了在这个独特中心的成功基础上再接再厉，我们现在寻求将DTC进一步扩展到令人兴奋的新科学和培训计划，以满足制药行业在预测科学，复杂配方和生物治疗方面的新兴需求。作为一所学校，我们已经在“下一代药物”领域进行了大力投资，新的工作人员职位和学生。我们现在请求EPSRC提供资金，最初用于在4年内培训另一批5名博士生，以期在2011年申办另外2批之前建立连接科学项目。由于阿斯利康最近的变化以及拉夫堡工厂的关闭，这两阶段竞标的时机至关重要，因为随着该公司巩固其核心科学领域，这将弥补资金缺口。将靶向治疗DTC扩展为一个新的博士培训中心将使英国科学家成为国际行业的前沿，因为它引入了形成“下一代”靶向和个性化药物家族的复杂疗法。

The need for innovation in healthcare is a key EPSRC priority, recognising that improvements to the health of UK citizens require step changes in the science and technology underlying diagnosis and treatment. Collaborative research, linking the engineering, physical and life sciences across academy and industry, and supported by the research councils, has been a crucial factor in establishing the UK pharmaceuticals sector as second only to the US in the discovery of new medicines. In this proposal we set out an extension and enhancement to the UK's first pharmaceutical sciences Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) joint-funded by industry, the EPSRC/AstraZeneca Doctoral Training Centre in Targeted Therapeutics. The first four years of the Targeted Therapeutics DTC have seen the successful establishment of 20 new collaborative PhD programs with AstraZeneca, 27 papers, patents or conference contributions, 35 new training projects and a vibrant community of highly talented multidisciplinary research students. A total of 15.1 million in grants related to Targeted Therapeutics has been awarded to DTC project leaders since 2006 and 43 principal researchers are now working together across the University of Nottingham and four AstraZeneca sites. To build on the successes of this unique centre we now seek to extend the DTC further into exciting new science and training programs that address the emerging needs of the pharmaceuticals sector in predictive science, complex formulations and biotherapeutics. As a School we are already investing strongly in the 'Next Generation Medicines' area, with new staff positions and studentships. We now request funds from the EPSRC initially to train a further cohort of 5 PhD students over 4 years, with a view to establishing connecting scientific projects prior to a bid for 2 extra cohorts in 2011. The timing for this two-stage bid is crucial owing to recent changes in AstraZeneca and the closure of their Loughborough site, as it will bridge a funding gap as the company consolidates its core science areas. The extension of the Targeted Therapeutics DTC into a new Centre for Doctoral Training will prepare UK scientists to be in the forefront of the international industry as it introduces the sophisticated therapies forming the 'next-generation' family of targeted and personalised medicines.