GlaxoSmithKline invests $25 mn to become partner in new global fund for dementia research

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced it will be a key partner, with an investment of $25 million (approx £17 million), in a pioneering new global fund for dementia research. The Dementia Discovery Fund, which is being established by the UK government with initial commitments totalling $100 million, brings together leading pharmaceutical companies, the UK government and Alzheimer’s Research UK to address the rising threat posed by dementia by supporting research into future treatments.

The fund aims to identify and nurture promising new avenues of research from around the world in the field of dementia and supports GSK’s commitment to explore novel, collaborative approaches in challenging areas of research. It is hoped that by providing critical financial support and expert advice during the early stages of research, the development of innovative new treatments for this disease could be accelerated.

Dementia poses a serious and rising threat to public health and healthcare systems globally. According to the World Health Organization more than 35 million people are living with dementia worldwide. This number is expected to triple by 2050, yet there are currently no medicines available to prevent or cure this disease. This is due to the complexity of the brain, which makes finding new treatments for neurodegenerative conditions like dementia exceptionally difficult scientifically.  Coupled with this, the slow onset of disease and diverse range of symptoms associated with it means that clinical trials for potential new treatments are very challenging to carry out. The failure rate in the development of new medicines for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases currently stands at 95% for assets in clinical development, which is about double the failure rate seen in other areas of research.

Patrick Vallance, president of pharmaceutical R&D at GSK, said: “The rise of dementia is fast becoming one of the world’s greatest health threats, and in order to reverse the tide on this, it’s imperative that the scientific community works together, sharing knowledge and expertise with one another. Today’s announcement signals a unique opportunity for us to translate some of the world’s most promising research in this field in to life changing medicines. This Fund is a really smart way of bringing together great minds and communally increasing our understanding of dementia. It’s also a good way of sharing the financial risk associated with conducting drug discovery research in this field.

Brain Research Centre - Indian Institute of Science (IIsc).

Pratiksha Trust formed by Infosys Executive Vice-Chairman Kris Gopalakrishnan and his wife Sudha Gopalakrishnan will invest Rs.225 crore to set up a Brain Research Centre in the campus of Indian Institute of Science (IIsc).

The facility would be dedicated to study the numerous aspects of the functioning of the brain with specific goals to find cures for neurodegenerative conditions and diseases that are accelerated by old age.

The Centre is a joint effort between Pratiksha Trust which will grant Rs.225 crore over 10 years for the establishment and functioning of the facility for brain research. Further, it will receive support from the Centre for Neuroscience and other research facilities at IISc and collaborate with various research hospitals across Bengaluru, according to a statement issued by Pratiksha Trust.

To guide the Centre, an international Scientific Advisory Board has been set up with Nobel Laureate, Prof. Torsten Wiesel as Chairman. Professors Stanley Fahn, Columbia University; Sangram Sisodia, University of Chicago; John Morris, Washington University, St. Louis; and Giovanni Frisoni, University of Geneva are among the members of the Scientific Advisory Board. The Board will help in initiating the operations of the Centre, set research goals, and guide the Centre in its initial years.

The facility will also work for a better understanding of relative functions of the brain as well as leveraging the existing understanding of its functioning to create better models of computing, according to the statement from the Trust.

To ensure an alliance between medical research and computing, the Trust will also fund the setting up of three chair professorships each in the Departments of Computer Science at IISc and at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras).

According to Gopalakrishnan, trustee, Pratiksha Trust, said,"The human brain is one of the world’s biggest mysteries, which is yet to be fully understood by man. By funding and creating this Centre with IISc, we are working towards creating a globally recognized, world-class research facility that will be at the cutting-edge of research on the human brain.