Biomedical Sciences Blog

British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to sponsor at least $25 million in work at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Cambridge, one of the largest investments in stem cell research ever by a major pharmaceuticals company.

As part of the five-year agreement, GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to support research at Harvard University and four Harvard-affiliated hospitals to try to find cures for cancer, obesity, diabetes, and neurological, cardiac, and musculoskeletal diseases. The company also agreed to help fund Harvard's "seed grant" program, which supports early stage research.

Pfizer Inc., one of the world's biggest drug companies, launched a stem cell research unit in April with offices in the United Kingdom and Cambridge. Pfizer says it hopes to have 20 scientists in the Cambridge office soon.

From Boston Globe and Harvard University

# posted by BIOENGINE @ 3:24 PM