Bavarian Immunotherapy Network starts in Regensburg

Innovative approaches in the field of immunotherapy aimed to be brought out of the laboratory into clinical application is the goal of the new 14 million Euro research initiative “Bavarian Immunotherapy Network“, which is coordinated by the medical faculty of the University of Regensburg. The knowledge from immunotherapy research is of great significance particularly in combating cancer and infectious and autoimmune disease such as diabetes mellitus, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatic disease. In BayImmuNet, in addition to Regensburg, both Munich Universities and the medical faculties in Würzburg and Erlangen are also represented. The network should promote as a goal therapy-oriented research working together with the pharmaceutical industry and smaller biotechnology companies. Initially five clinical research groups in the field of translational immunotherapy will be set up to further develop immunotherapeutic approaches. In all projects collaboration with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies should be intensified in the early research phases. BioPark Regensburg GmbH is one of the first partners that will actively support this intention. A cooperation contract in line with this has been recently signed. By 2009 a laboratory centre should be in existence for the manufacture of so-called cell medicines in the José-Carerras Centre for Somatic Cell Therapy. In doing so Regensburg is strengthening its outrider role in the development of cellular therapies.