UK Science and Technology Secretary and Canadian Science Minister unveil £4.5 million for joint research and innovation in cutting-edge medical treatments at debut meeting

• The UK’s Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, and Canada’s Minister for Science, François-Philippe Champagne, will announce an approx. £4.5 million package of funding to enable cutting-edge medical treatments, when they meet for the first time, at Canada House, this morning (Wednesday 24 July).
• £2.5 million from Innovate UK will be paired with a CA$3.4 million contribution from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to back six joint UK-Canada R&D projects aiming to further develop and commercialise new manufacturing methods of immunotherapies, gene therapies and precision therapeutics.
• With our funding biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies can partner-up to bring more intricate therapies closer to market and boost the development of novel technologies, creating more collaborative research opportunities for the future.
• The projects include:
  • The creation of ADC biomanufacturing platform to make ADC, an advance precision biotherapeutics, scalable and a next-generation high-yield producer platform for cell and gene therapy viral vectors.
  • Development of small molecule formulations for enhanced production of AAV and a new technology platform for computational design and cell-based screening of peptide libraries.
  • The use of sustainable growth factors for the automated manufacture of cellular therapeutics
  • Combining long-circulating Lipid Nanoparticles with cancer-targeting T-Cell Receptors to better deliver immunotherapies in the tumour microenvironment.
• The UK and Canada represent two major global economies, worth over £4 trillion combined, with a relationship steeped in a shared history and values. 
• Today’s meeting is part of the government’s plan to strengthen ties with international partners and rebuild the UK’s reputation as a strong, reliable partner, while harnessing the power of science and technology for benefits at home – to renew the NHS and drive economic growth.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: 

“Great science cannot be done in isolation, and joining forces with nations like Canada, which share our ambitions, will help us reach our common goal – to improve the quality of life for thousands struggling with cancer.  

“Both our countries want to use the power of science and innovation to deliver economic growth, better healthcare, and as a force for good in the world. I am pleased to renew that partnership today.”