Boehringer Ingelheim Beyond Borders: Science, Collaboration, Geography
New ideas and new science. As the Company’s ‘radar’ for the next big wave of innovation, the RBB team is tasked with exploring emerging science and technologies. They take an agnostic approach to therapeutic area and modality, which allows them to explore new and disruptive ideas and technologies across the entire research spectrum. But where are the new frontiers in science and how is the team meeting the challenge?
At the frontiers of science
RBB’s current portfolio has a wide, opportunistic horizon: from heart failure to tropical infectious disease and from cystic fibrosis to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The team is particularly interested in advancing drug discovery in areas of high unmet medical need, or where existing therapies are limited in efficacy, acceptability or applicability. Areas of specific interest include gene therapy, regenerative medicine and the role of the microbiome in human health and disease.
Collaboration is key
The notion of ‘beyond borders’ also extends to how the research is executed – by forging collaborations with the scientific community that blend external innovation and internal expertise. Already involved in key research projects in gene therapy for eye and lung diseases, as well as regenerative medicine, our team has established more than 30 partnerships with world-leading universities and academic research institutions in the USA, Europe and Asia.
Harnessing scientific excellence in Asia to meet global healthcare challenges
Asia is a particular focus for the RBB team, driven by the continent’s significant investment in life-science innovation as well as Asia’s own increasing ‘beyond borders’ approach to research – encouraging exciting scientific talent back to Asia and looking outwards to build partnerships. Working together with the innovation community and leading research institutions in Asia enhances our capacity to explore cutting-edge science and meet the global healthcare challenges of the future.
Unique models of industry-academic partnership
Looking beyond conventional partnering models, Boehringer Ingelheim and Tsinghua University in China teamed up to establish a Joint Research Center for Immune-Infection. The Center will coordinate collaboration between scientists from the partners and with other academic groups as they apply the principles of immune modulation to the treatment of infectious diseases. This partnership builds on a track record of collaborations in China based on the outstanding science across major innovation hubs.
“We are excited about the opportunity to forge innovative collaborations with our partners in Asian and other global centers of excellence. Academic institutions are leading the way in key areas of science such as regenerative medicine and gene therapy and we are pleased to be connecting our scientists with leading experts in these and other emerging areas of research through our Research Beyond Borders activities.”
Detlev Mennerich, Global Head, Research Beyond Borders, Boehringer Ingelheim.
Research Beyond Borders @ Boehringer Ingelheim
View or download our infographic to discover how we’re going ‘Beyond Borders’ to explore new and emerging areas of science: Research Beyond Borders @ Boehringer Ingelheim
Our Partnering Interests in Research Beyond Borders
RBB integrates both internal and external insights and opportunities, and explores new models for collaboration, to bring together the talents and capabilities of our scientists with the strengths of scientists around the world. Find out more about the areas of science we are exploring to build our Research Beyond Borders portfolio: Research Beyond Borders Partnering Interests