Industry leaders seek to improve collaborations

By Agnes Lenagh, UNeMed

OMAHA, Neb. (June 11, 2014)—Industry-academia collaboration was the overarching theme of the First Annual Biopharmaceutical Research and Development Symposium.

Eager researchers and leading biopharmaceutical industry scientists talked about ways to strengthen our relationships in a two-day symposium hosted by the UNMC College of Pharmacy. The aim was to improve dialogue and research collaborations between industry and academia.

In addition to the presentations, the symposium also facilitated roundtable discussions with faculty, postdoctoral scientists and graduate students. Speakers and attendees exchanged valuable tips to improve techniques, and shared new methodologies.

During the first roundtable discussion industry leaders discussed how to increase visibility and enable collaborations with industry partners: Invaluable advice that highlighted what industry wants.

• Industry personnel said they often identify opportunities by scanning the literature for tools they need and reading information offered by technology transfer offices like UNeMed. A company frequently reaches out to academia to find the appropriate equipment, ideal technique, correct animal model, or even expertise on a subject.
• In order to work together, academic research has to fit and match the research done by the potential industry collaborator.

Gangadhar Sunkara, PhD, executive director of the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, made the comparison to a lock and key, where academia has to have the right key to open the door and collaborate with industry.

• Industry representatives also said they use connections in academia, including former classmates and contacts made at networking events. They use these relations in academia to better understand what we do and how to best take advantage of the available resources.

During the symposium, speakers offered two important pieces of advice to researchers: flaunt it and speak at the same level.

First, as a researcher, if you have it, flaunt it. When speaking to industry professionals, let them know that you are the director of whatever division or facility. Industry wants top-notch people, and they appreciate knowing who’s in charge of which resources.

Second, don’t talk over their heads. Stick to using vocabulary, terminology and concepts that are at their level. Be sure to find a common ground so everyone can be on the same page and the important details aren’t lost in translation.

Companies present included Gilead Sciences, AbbVie, Novartis, Bend Research, FreeThink Technologies, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Biopharmaceutical and Drug Delivery Consulting, Biogen Idec, Genzyme Sanofi Corporation, and Celerion.