The development laboratories, working on an industrial model in collaboration with the originating academics, will double in size with the number of scientists increasing from about 45 to 90
Cancer Research Technology (CRT), the cancer-focused commercialisation and development company, has revealed details of its ambitious lab expansion programme.
The first phase of expansion will focus on increasing both the medicinal chemistry and biological teams.
Future plans will bring CRT's expertise into the heart of major Cancer Research UK institutes in Cambridge, Manchester and Glasgow.
This will follow the establishment of CRT business managers in these locations to be closer to the science and the scientists.
The expansion is testament to the number of projects initiated on the back of discoveries arising from basic research funded by CRT's parent charity, Cancer Research UK, and other partners throughout Europe and the USA.
Increasing the capacity of the labs will help to meet growing demand and, in particular, enable projects to be completed more quickly, ensuring potential therapeutics are developed as soon as possible.
It will consolidate CRT's leading global position in translational drug discovery and biotherapeutic development.
CRT last year formed an American subsidiary company.
The Boston-based team has already announced a major collaboration with the Fox Chase Cancer Center.
CRT is also the key commercialisation partner in Australia's new Cooperative Research Centre for Cancer Therapeutics.
Clive Stanway, recently appointed to the new role of chief scientific officer at CRT, said: "The expansion will make us better equipped to meet the diverse demands of our academic collaborators, and bridge the development gap to industry.
"It will also create many new partnering opportunities, providing leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with exciting and novel opportunities to supplement their pipelines".
The announcement coincides with CRT's presence at Bio2007, the world's largest biotech conference, taking place in Boston, USA.
CRT's drug discovery and biotherapeutic development teams consist of staff drawn from academia and industry.
Both groups will benefit from the expansion as the total number of scientists doubles.
Keith Blundy, CEO of CRT, said: "This is an extremely exciting period of growth for CRT.
"Our plans will redefine traditional models of technology transfer.
"Patient benefit is at the heart of all these developments and I am proud to have the opportunity to lead them."
