FundingKickoff of the next beLAB2122 project
24 April 2024
published by hei_INNOVATION
As part of the beLAB2122 BRIDGE, the project of PD Dr. Wolfgang Merkt, scientist at the Heidelberg Medical Faculty and senior physician at Heidelberg University Hospital, has begun as a grant at Heidelberg University. Since January, he has been developing an innovative therapeutic approach for progressive pulmonary fibrosis in collaboration with the biotechnology company EVOTEC and the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb, both of which are also partners in belab2122. In the first phase, the project is being funded with around 300,000 €.
Fibrotic organ damage is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many systemic and chronic diseases. Fibrotic lung involvement is particularly detrimental to patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Consequently, the medical need for new therapeutic strategies in this area is extremely high. In the last 10-20 years, the pathophysiology of fibrotic lung diseases has been better understood and pathogenic cell types, certain types of fibroblasts, have been identified. Nevertheless, fibroblast-based therapeutic strategies are still in their infancy.
Dr. Merkt wants to close this gap with his beLAB2122 project. Together with the biotechnology company EVOTEC and the pharmaceutical company BMS - both also partners in belab2122 - his academic laboratory is now developing new drugs that are intended to restore the control of pathological fibroblasts by the body's own immune system. These active substances should make it possible to eliminate fibrotic lung damage, which was previously considered irreversible.
"The beLAB2122 funding is an excellent opportunity to bring together experts from drug and active ingredient development and experts from disease-related basic research. The combined expertise on the industrial and academic side is necessary for this so-called "translational" research. Evotec has expertise in drug development, including the very complex instrumental robotics required for this, and our laboratory has knowledge of the clinical necessities as well as the biological principles and models. The exchange with colleagues who are working on similar projects is also very beneficial for my own projects," reports Dr. Merkt.
The idea of what the first active substances should look like at a molecular level has already been developed. The next steps include the production of the molecules at EVOTEC and subsequent testing in the biological model in the academic laboratory.
The beLAB2122 is a cooperation model - industry and academia - in which the University of Heidelberg, the Universities of Frankfurt and Tübingen, the DKFZ and the EMBL are involved as a translational bridge in the Rhine-Main-Neckar region. The industrial partners are Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb, who are also providing the funding. It offers an ambitious environment for advancing academic projects in the life sciences. Scientific projects with great potential for innovation are supported on their way to application. The focus is on validation on the way to market maturity.