A new local agreement for Pfizer with the company sponsoring research at the University of Melbourne to identify and validate new targets for cancer therapy.
The company said the agreement will provide support to immunity mechanisms research led by Associate Professor Laura Mackay from the university’s Department of Immunology and Microbiology based at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
“This research project will hopefully enable development of therapies to target tissue-resident lymphocytes that are key players for cancer control,” said Associate Professor Mackay, whose team will now focus on early-stage target identification.
University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Associate Dean (Research) Professor Mike McGukin welcomed Pfizer's support.
“Associate Professor Mackay’s work has great relevance for cancer immunotherapy and her collaboration with Pfizer could ultimately help accelerate the discovery of potential novel therapies for these diseases,” he said.
“The University of Melbourne is seeking to deepen its relationships with industry and this support from Pfizer is a great example of the synergy that can be found between high quality fundamental research and the translational drug development expertise of industry.”