Implications for our overall strategy

The current progress within basic biomedical science in areas such as genetics, cell biology and immunology creates new potentials to understand, treat and prevent human diseases. These potentials do often far exceed the ability of the research community to utilise and transfer this knowledge into cures and prevention in clinical care. It is widely recognised that the structure of translational medicine is in need of reorganisation. Thus, the current disconnected, but often innovative groups in basic science, clinical science and industry need to connect and be part of still innovative but more integrated structures, where better use can be made of novel tools from molecular biomedicine and from information technologies. There is also a growing awareness that this must be done in such a way that patients and clinicians are active partners in the transformation rather than being passive or reluctant beneficiaries.

Work package structure

The program will consist of four major components:

I. Platforms for infrastructure that are of strategic value and which can only be built by a large consortium. These platforms will aim to develop unique values in Swedish research such as longitudinal databases and biobanks, and establish necessary technical platforms such as animal model facilities (WP 1-3). The platforms will be open for use both for members of this consortium and for other scientists within the area of inflammation in Sweden and internationally.

II. Innovative projects that utilise and interact with the platforms. Support to these projects led by defined PIs will stimulate cross-fertilisation between basic and clinical research, and enhance recruitment of young scientists from different areas into our field (WP 4-8).

III. Public partnership programs: This program is specifically directed towards interaction between industry, research, health care and patients, for development of new therapies and diagnostics (WP 9-11). These programs will be run by academic scientists and industry representatives in collaboration. It will primarily be formed by the companies/authorities who have already signed up for this program (as expression of interest) but will tentatively also be open for extension to new companies and organisations in Sweden and internationally.

IV. An organisation aimed to implement and disseminate results from the work in healthcare and in society (WP 12,13).

To read more about the different workpackages, follow the links on the left.