The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) agreed to work together to advance diabetes drug R&D. The initial focus will be on pancreatic beta-cell regeneration and survival to restore beta-cell function in diabetes.
The program builds on current JDRF funding at GNF that has resulted in the discovery of beta-cell regeneration drug targets and candidates. It also allows for the inclusion of JDRF-funded projects and other discoveries. The aim is to take a number of drug candidates into the clinic over the four-year term of the initiative.
“Through this collaboration with JDRF, we are looking to create a unique program of translational research that fully exploits the strengths of each partner to produce a continuous source of novel insights, drug targets, and drug candidates,” says Peter Schultz, Ph.D., lead GNF investigator and institute director.