The University of Toronto has announced a new strategic open innovation collaboration with Janssen Inc. facilitated by the Johnson & Johnson Innovation center of California that will support research through the Collaborative Center for Drug Research (CCDR). The 3-year agreement will help identify and validate new therapeutic targets that could advance clinical treatment for major brain disorders, including mood disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
"This is an important opportunity to enhance discovery of new therapeutics targeted at mental health and neurodegenerative disorders," said Professor Catharine Whiteside, dean of the faculty of medicine. She noted that conditions such as dementia and depression are on the rise worldwide affecting hundreds of millions. “We must make inroads in tackling these health challenges through innovation and strategic collaboration.”
This partnership is intended to enhance the spirit of discovery and exploration in neuroscience and mental health. Under the terms of the agreement, the CCDR will issue three calls for proposals over 3 years. Collaborative and open-source research projects will be solicited from researchers at U of T and its affiliated hospitals through the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. Scientists from Janssen will work with U of T researchers to provide the drug discovery expertise required to rapidly develop new medicines from basic science innovations.
“The potential for tremendous gains in human health can be found in working together in an open innovation partnership,” said professor Peter Lewis, U of T’s interim vice-president, research and innovation. “Janssen’s support of open discovery furthers U of T’s research goals, while identifying new therapeutic options that can provide new treatment options for patients.”
The CCDR was established in the spring of 2013 and brings together researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The ultimate goal of the Neuroscience Catalyst is to work together in close partnership to tackle the major challenge of developing new innovative treatments in the area of mental health and neurodegeneration.