Celgene have launched CITRE (Celgene Institute of Translational Research Europe), a collaboration among government, industry and academia. Based in Spain, the centre aims to become a European hub for cutting-edge translational science. 

CITRE is an alliance to bring together key parties from government, industry and academia, the collaboration’s main objective will be to minimise the gap between basic scientific research and clinical results, so that patients benefit sooner from laboratory discoveries.

“CITRE represents a new model for research in Europe, based on qualities that are fundamental to success: collaboration, communication and progress,” said Sol J. Barer, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Celgene. “This new research paradigm will expedite the discovery of innovative approaches in cellular therapies for patients with otherwise limited options who are in need of new solutions.”

The centre will be dedicated to therapeutic innovation via translational research – the linking of basic scientific discoveries in the laboratory with clinical advances. CITRE will focus on several cutting-edge research areas, including cell signalling, cellular therapies, tumour biobanking, epigenetics and bioinformatics and will comprise five facilities:

• Cell Cultures
• Citometry
• Electronic Microscopy
• Genomics
• Proteomics

“CITRE is the first Celgene centre outside the United States exclusively dedicated to R&D,” said Thomas Daniel, President of Celgene Global Research. 

CITRE will employ qualified scientists from Europe and across the globe who are at the forefront of research. The centre will be built around a central unit of translational medical research, which will coordinate and manage Celgene’s medical research in Europe.

Source: Celgene