Boehringer Ingelheim and Harvard scientists to research fibrotic diseases

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced a new research collaboration with the Harvard Fibrosis Network, part of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

The aim of this project will be to discover new ways of treating fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Currently, only limited effective treatment options are available for these conditions.

The Harvard Fibrosis Network brings together more than 1,000 investigators from several Harvard University schools, as well as the Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Boehringer Ingelheim is initially sponsoring three projects to explore novel pathways and molecular targets. The project teams will have access to a chemical compound collection and siRNA library at the ICCB-Longwood screening facility.

All research projects will be sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim for an initial period of three years, with additional initiatives to be added upon selection by a joint steering committee.

Dr Clive Wood, senior corporate vice-president for discovery research at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "We strongly believe that the integration of deep medical and preclinical research expertise across multiple fibrotic disorders is centrally important for the discovery of new treatments for patients."