Garvan Institute of Medical Research

  Overview

The Garvan Institute of Medical Research is the largest medical research institute in New South Wales and a cornerstone of the St Vincent’s Biotechnology Precinct. Garvan’s molecular and clinical programs focus on the genetic basis of disease.

The Garvan is an international leader in forging innovative links with the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and finance industries. Commercial activities include international research collaborations, intellectual property licenses and initiatives that add value through new company formation and financing including Aza Research Pty Ltd, PsyGene Pty Ltd, and G2 Therapies Limited.

  Competitive Advantages/Technology

Garvan has built excellent teams and critical mass in endocrinology and cell signalling. The clinical foundation and translational focus of the molecular research programs offer particular value for biotechnology and pharmaceutical product development. Specific areas include:

Diabetes and Obesity:
Type II diabetes, insulin resistance, clinical studies, glucose transport, lipid signalling, insulin secretion, cell signalling, IP: protein kinases, animal models, lipid metabolism

Neurobiology:
Bipolar disorder (manic depression) and dementia genomics, neuropeptide biology, feeding behavior, IP: neuropeptide receptors, neuropeptides, candidate gene loci

Osteoporosis:
Clinical and molecular epidemiology, molecular bio-logy of vitamin D receptor, IP: gene prognostics for bone density, mouse models for osteoporosis, novel isoforms of vitamin D receptor

Inflammatory Disease:
Cytokines and cytokine receptors, B cell development, clinical research partnerships in asthma, arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, IP: transcript profiling, monoclonal antibodies

Cancer:
Breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer, mammary gland development, cell cycle regulation, translational research, IP: receptor & effector genes, tumor suppressor gene, extensive tissuebanks, GeneChips

Pituitary Disease:
Regulation of growth hormone secretion, clinical research program on mechanisms of therapeutic hormone action, IP: hormone assays.

  Corporate Alliances/Partnerships

Licensing and Partnering are the core Garvan business development activities. Building on a strong patent portfolio and the world-class expertise of the scientific staff the Garvan has engaged in a number of successful technology licenses and collaborative partnerships. Commercial partnerships and agreements have generated over $10 million in income for the Garvan over the last five years. This is a reflection of the increasing attention companies now give to working with Garvan researchers as well as to the international stature of the Institute's research. There are significant benefits for all participants in these relationships. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners are aided in supplying their competitive product pipelines while the Garvan gains new strategic collaborators and essential funds.

Partnering activities with international pharmaceutical corporations including Merck, Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and GlaxoSmithKline as well as licenses and contracts with companies such as Eos Biotechnology, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Amgen and Chemicon have established conduits for turning Garvan technology into new medical products and for contributing Garvan expertise to the global efforts to develop improved pharmaceuticals.

Partnering Opportunities/Needs

Garvan seeks strategic partners within its areas of expertise for collaborative research projects. Priority is placed on partners with substantial complementary expertise as well as financial resources in order to establish mutually productive programs.

Garvan also seeks interested licensees and investors for its patent portfolio and spin-off companies. Current information is available on the Garvan web site and by contacting the Institute.

Contact Person	Dr Jonathan Izant
Job Title	Director Business Development
Address	384 Victoria Street
City/Suburb	Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
Email	j.izant@garvan.org.au
Phone	+61 2 9295 8118
Fax	+61 2 9295 8101
Website Address	www.garvan.org.au

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