MRC Technology received a £577,000 ($916,000) award from the Biomedical Catalyst. The award will fund research into the role of cytokine IL-16 in Ischemic Reperfusion Injury (IRI), the tissue damage and ensuing inflammatory response resulting from a sudden loss of blood flow, such as may occur during surgery or as a result of a blood clot.

The MRC Technology program will culminate in delivery of a humanized anti-IL-16 antibody along with efficacy, pharmacokinetic, and toxicology data in mammalian models, as a prelude to partnering with pharma or biotech and subsequent progression into clinical trials. The therapeutic potential of the anti-IL-16 antibody against other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases will also be investigated, using models including Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

MRC Technology is the exclusive technology transfer agent for the UK’s Medical Research Council. The Biomedical Catalyst is a program of public funding designed to deliver growth to the U.K. life sciences sector, supported jointly by the Medical Research Council and the Technology Strategy Board.

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