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Cambridge, UK, 5 September 2005… CellCentric, a leading company in the exploitation of epigenetics, announces that it has received new funding of £150,000 from NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts). The investment will be used to increase the company’s discovery capacity for epigenetic related cancer targets and therapeutics.
Different types of cells have widely differing functions but contain the same genetic information encoded in their DNA. These differences are determined by which parts of the DNA are actively used. Epigenetic modifications are those that sit on top of the DNA and regulate which DNA regions are read. By manipulating epigenetic control mechanisms the fate of individual cells can be changed.
The field of epigenetics is expected to radically change traditional approaches to treating diseases, including cancer and degenerative conditions. Many cancers have abnormal epigenetic profiles. By targeting errant epigenetic mechanisms, cancer cells can be selected for destruction. CellCentric has already identified several novel and proprietary proteins that influence cell fate and are clear candidates for the development of cancer therapeutics.
In addition to targeting cancer, the company is generating epigenetic-based products for bioprocessing and cell proliferation.
NESTA’s investment is in acknowledgement of CellCentric’s pioneering approaches and leadership in epigenetics. With the investment, Cellcentric plans to leverage its unique scientific platform to discover further proteins and small molecules which can be used to target and destroy cancer cells.
Mark White, NESTA Director of Invention and Innovation, said:
“CellCentric is in a unique position to commercialise emerging ideas in leading edge science. With NESTA’s investment and support, combined with CellCentric’s network of world class epigenetics researchers, the company is in the best place possible to exploit this exciting and innovative new science.”
CellCentric’s discovery and development platform is built upon the pioneering research of Prof Azim Surani FRS at the Gurdon Institute, Cambridge University. His work was once again featured in the leading scientific journal, Nature (14 July 2005). His pipeline of innovation is complemented by that at The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, one of the largest concentrations of epigenetic research in Europe. CellCentric has rights over the epigenetic-related intellectual property generated at the Institute, and also funds a research programme with Dr Wolf Reik.
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FURTHER INFORMATION
CellCentric Ltd
Will West, COO will.west@cellcentric.co.uk
NESTA +44 (0)20 7645 9518
Joe Meaney joe.meaney@nesta.org.uk
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Northbank Communications +44 (0)20 7886 8150
Emma Palmer e.palmer@northbankcommunications.com
Rowan Minnion r.minnion@northbankcommunications.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
About CellCentric Ltd.
CellCentric Ltd. is establishing itself as one of the leaders in the commercial exploitation of epigenetics and mechanisms that determine cell fate. The company was founded in May 2004 with initial funding from Avlar BioVentures and Providence Investment Trust. The company is based upon the world leading research of Prof Azim Surani FRS at the Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge. His work is complemented by that at the Babraham Institute, one of Europe’s leading research centres in epigenetics.
About NESTA www.nesta.org.uk
NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) investing in innovators and working to improve the climate for creativity in the UK.
Established in 1998 and set up with an endowment from the National Lottery (£200 million, raised in 2003 to £250 million), NESTA invests the interest to support UK innovation. Since May 2000, when the programmes first opened, NESTA has spent over £58m on programmes supporting 683 awards.
NESTA’s Invention and Innovation programme, which is the largest source of seed funding in the UK, has invested in 240 projects totally £15.6m since December 1999.
NESTA has a dedicated Media Room on its web site where news releases like this are easily available and where journalists can subscribe to receive any future releases. Other information, including high-resolution images to download and Communications contact details, are also available at www.nesta.org.uk/mediaroom
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