March 2, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada
Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $2,167,000 to The Centre for Drug Research and Development (CDRD) to support the development and commercialization of innovative treatments for human disease in the field of immunotherapy.
Through this project, called the ‘Immunotherapy Initiative’, CDRD will collaborate with academic and private sector partners to develop new technologies and potentially identify new targets for immunotherapy. The funding will support CDRD in acquiring specialized equipment that will be used to develop these novel therapies.
Immunotherapy is a powerful therapeutic approach that uses the human body’s immune system to treat disease by inducing or suppressing an immune response. Unlike traditional pharmaceutical drugs which directly target or interact with affected cells, immunotherapy harnesses the power of the immune system to kill cancer cells or suppress inflammation and the effect can be long-lasting, without the need for frequent therapies. Therefore, immunotherapy has the potential to effectively treat cancer and other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition to the potential for the development of new treatments, this initiative will bolster and strengthen B.C. and Western Canada’s dynamic life-sciences sector and advance this region’s position in an emerging global market.
Emily Goucher
Office of the Minister
Western Economic Diversification
Telephone: 613-954-8097
Email: emily.goucher@wd-deo.gc.ca
Julia White
Manager, Communications
The Centre for Drug Research and Development
Telephone: 604-827-1226
Email: jwhite@cdrd.ca
WD Toll-Free Number: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
Website: WD is online at www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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