GlaxoSmithKline launches third annual Discovery Fast Track Challenge

GlaxoSmithKline has announced the launch of its third annual Discovery Fast Track Challenge, a partnership scheme designed to help foster new collaborations with academia.

Academic scientists in Europe, Canada and the US can submit details about the biological targets or pathways they are researching and the scientific rationale detailing how this early-stage research could direct future drug development.

Up to 12 proposals will be selected, with winning projects to be chosen based on the strength of the scientists' hypotheses, as well as the proposals' originality, initial progress and ability to deliver on an unmet medical need.

Since launching in 2013, the Discovery Fast Track Challenge has attracted more than 500 proposals from over 300 universities, academic research institutions and hospitals.

Carolyn Buser, the company's global head of discovery partnerships with academia, said: "The Discovery Fast Track Challenge is a unique opportunity to integrate the deep biological expertise found in academia with the extensive drug development knowledge of GlaxoSmithKline."

This comes after the firm signed up as a key partner to the UK government's new Dementia Discovery Fund earlier this month.