Inflammatory diseases related to a complex series of biochemical processes that can occur in the human body. Here body tissue responds to pathogens, allergens, irritants, or cell damage by triggering an immune response. Ordinarily inflammation is a defensive activity, where the body eliminates the cause of an infection, clears out dead cells, builds new cells, and generates new tissues.
However, in some cases, inflammatory abnormalities can occur. These can arise through mutations, and such conditions include asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, vasculitis, and autoimmune disease. The latter includes myocarditis and diabetes.
The importance of such diseases is why the new consortium has been formed, mainly finance by the Medical Research Council (MRC). This will be used to fund work within the university sector, involving University College London, Universities of Cambridge, Glasgow and Newcastle, and Imperial College London.
GlaxoSmithKline will, according to PharmaFile, open up its portfolio of medicines and experimental compounds, as well as provide expertise and similar funding support. The initial focus will be on finding treatments for diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and fibrosis.
In related news, GlaxoSmithKline is to work with a new research institute in London called Francis Crick Institute. The focus will be on research and development in relation to medications for HIV, malaria, cancer and other diseases. The aim is that all discoveries will be shared throughout the scientific community, with results published in open-access journals.
