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Funding call: MaRS Innovation Industry Access Program (MI-IAP) accepting applications to February 6

Researchers working in orphan indications, immuno-oncology, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other key areas invited to submit a brief Statement of Interest

The commercialization process: Moving transformational ideas from the lab bench to the street
MaRS Innovation’s commercialization process helps inventors move their transformational ideas from the lab bench to the street.

The MaRS Innovation Industry Access Program (MI-IAP) is a simple, formalized process for marketing early-stage technologies to MI’s industry partners: Baxter, LifeLabs (formerly CML Healthcare), GSK, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and IRICoR/Merck.

The program’s goal is to secure funding for researchers within MI’s membership through these collaborative, strategic R&D partnership programs.

The program is open to any researcher affiliated with MI’s 16 member institutions working on technologies in:

  • Orphan indications
  • Immuno-oncology
  • Respiratory system diseases (e.g., Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer, etc.)
  • Diabetes
  • Neuroscience
  • Orthopaedics
  • General surgery

Successfully run in November 2013 and March 2014, the MI-IAP allows researchers to easily determine whether an industry partner is interested in co-developing their technologies. The application process is deliberately brief at the outset.

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AvidBiologics and National Research Council of Canada to collaborate on antibody-drug conjugates

AvidBiologics Inc.Toronto-based AvidBiologics Inc., a leading Canadian biotech company, and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) are collaborating on one of the most promising advances in the fight against cancer: antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

Recently signed research and licensing agreements will enable both organizations to continue developing a series of ADCs targeting breast, lung, and head-and-neck cancers. Unlike chemotherapy, ADCs specifically seek and destroy cancer cells, with minimal impact on healthy cells.

“The work performed by NRC is crucial to assembling the data package needed for clinical trials,” said Ilia A. Tikhomirov, president and CEO of Avid Biologics, which focuses exclusively on ADCs. “We are privileged to be able to continue the rapid development of our lead candidate while advancing the other candidates in the pipeline in collaboration with the NRC. We thank the NRC and all of our partners for their support as AvidBiologics transitions from a discovery-stage to a development-stage company.”

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CAMH researcher’s leading-edge therapy targets brain chemistry of addiction

CAMH and MaRS Innovation partner on innovative approach to nicotine addiction

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) LogoTORONTO (Dec. 17, 2009) — Grappling with nicotine addiction is never easy, but a new drug therapy – developed by Dr. Fang Liu at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) – brings promise to one of our great public health challenges.

The experimental medication in development at Dr. Liu’s lab targets the brain chemistry associated with addiction by disrupting a specific receptor-receptor interaction.

Proof-of-concept data demonstrate that this therapy decreases addictive behavior associated with nicotine and alcohol in preclinical models.

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