NSCC and Nephrogenix to explore origins of kidney, bone

The National Stem Cell Centre (NSCC) has signed a research collaboration agreement with Nephrogenix, the company responsible for commercialising outcomes from the Renal Regeneration Consortium (RRC), which is investigating kidney development and regeneration.

The agreement sees the two organisations making the most of synergies between them to explore the common ancestry of kidneys, bone and bone marrow, which develop from the same progenitor cells. Nephrogenix is focused on treatments for kidney and renal disease, while the NSCC is targeting blood/bone marrow therapies as one of its key areas of research.

"We are looking at where we might have common ground, to share ideas and perhaps intellectual property," said Samantha Cobb, the executive officer of Nephrogenix. "We're really capitalising on where we each have strengths."

Under the terms of the agreement, if commercialisable outcomes arise from the research, Nephrogenix will have the rights to take renal applications forward, while the NSCC will take on the blood and bone marrow applications.

NSCC CEO Hugh Niall said the collaboration was part of the centre's mandate to stimulate activity throughout the Australian biotechnology industry.

"We are pleased that the NSCC can enter a relationship with Nephrogenix that allows each of us to capitalise on the synergies between our respective research programs and that simultaneously assists the development of a promising biotechnology company," he said.

Scientists involved in the collaboration include Martin Pera of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development and Andrew Perkins, Sean Grimmond and Rohan Teasdale from the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience.