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Immunology









Immunology and immune-driven disease

Understanding and modulating the immune response is a fast-evolving area for therapeutic development, with a focus on the key role immunology plays in many diseases.

Immune dysfunction underpins a wide spectrum of conditions, from autoimmune disorders and allergies to neuroinflammatory diseases, metabolic disease, infections and cancer.

Despite it’s central role in pathology, many patients still face limited treatment options, particularly in complex or chronic conditions where the immune system is dysregulated, as manipulation of the tightly controlled immune system, can have adverse effects in the patient.

There remains a pressing need for targeted, effective, and personalised immunotherapies that can deliver better outcomes with fewer side effects.

We help innovators overcome the scientific and translational barriers that have historically slowed progress in this critical area.


A scientist wearing safety glasses and a lab coat is adding vials to a centrifuge in a laboratory

























What we do in Immunology

We provide end-to-end support for immune-targeted drug discovery, combining immunology expertise with translational biology platforms. Our team develops and applies primary immune cell assays in multi-cellular models, for targeted mechanistic and phenotypic studies, depending on the research question.

We can evaluate therapeutics in antigen-specific assays and evaluate drug efficacy in patient-relevant ex vivo assays.

Using technologies like flow cytometry, Luminex, and high-content microscopy, we analyse cell phenotype within mixed cell populations, evaluate functional response and measure translational biomarkers in preclinical and patient-derived samples.

This translational approach is integrated with ex vivo tissue analysis and access to disease-relevant donors, ensuring data-rich, clinically relevant insights at every stage of development.




How we support your Immunology drug discovery project

Develop disease-relevant in vitro models
We can develop complex immune assays to understand cellular response to therapeutics. Our assays use primary cells from human blood or preclinical models to model disease biology, and test immunomodulatory therapies in a physiologically relevant way.

Interrogate immune responses and mechanisms of action
Using flow cytometry, multiplex protein analysis, transcriptomic analysis and imaging, we help characterise how your therapeutic interacts with and modifies immune function.

Evaluate biomarkers and clinical translatability
Our multi-omic platforms, including single cell, spatial tissue, and liquid sample analysis can identify molecular signatures of disease and drug response, helping build evidence to support for clinical progression.

Access to disease-relevant samples and donors
We understand the importance of translational preclinical research and ensure the cells and samples we use have clinical relevance, by working with human cells and tissue , and where relevant, patient material.







“We are interested in understanding your translational challenges and can help you navigate the complexity of immunology. Using our technology platforms with integrated research and analysis we provide key data to drive forward the next generation of immune-targeted therapies”

Dr Emily Offer, Head of In vitro Biology

Scientist Dr Emily Offer, head of in vitro biology at Medicines Discovery Catapult












See how we have helped innovators


CPSA is an ingenious extension of the target engagement toolbox. It is easier to upscale and control in high throughput screening applications than currently available methods. With exemplary support from MDC we have smoothly incorporated it into our Drug Discovery pipeline.

Selvita

MDC’s R&D consulting has been transformative, refining our HT8457S strategy with scientific rigour, identifying and mitigating risks, and strengthening our business model, significantly enhancing Haiku’s credibility.

Haiku Therapeutics

The partnership with MDC has allowed us to secure multiple Innovate UK grants and utilise capabilities such as state-of-the-art PET, which aren’t available elsewhere.

Alchemab Therapeutics

For the first time, we have been able to generate a map of lung fibrosis in 3D at the tissue scale. Collaborating with MDC has been key to its success. Their expertise has supported the successful integration of state-of-the-art technologies, establishing a valuable new resource for the lung fibrosis community.

University of Southampton

Working with MDC allowed us to visualise drug distribution in the brain with a level of clarity we hadn’t achieved before. Their expertise in DESI-MS and willingness to design a project that met our demands provided powerful insights into diffusion patterns, giving us confidence in our compound’s delivery.

TargTex

We worked with the Mass Spectrometry team at MDC to help set up and run a complex biochemical assay. The project was technically demanding, but the deep expertise, knowledge and collaborative approach allowed the team to troubleshoot the many challenges and successfully deliver a viable approach.

Oppilotech

The team at MDC shares our passion for bringing forward innovative medicines, pioneering new technologies, and operating with data-driven flexibility. They have been integral to our project success and possess unique capabilities to support later-stage candidate selection. A truly valued collaborator and dependable partner.

Artbio

Elasmogen was impressed by the quality and rapid delivery timelines for our radiopharmaceutical dosimetry data. There was good interactivity in this project, and we are happy to recommend this service.

Elasmogen

Our collaboration with Medicines Discovery Catapult will not only enable us to engage with the wider scientific community but will also allow us to unlock the potential of Acoustic Mass Spectrometry within drug discovery.

Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca

It’s been absolutely amazing working with MDC and the team.

LUNAC Therapeutics

MDC supported us in developing a therapeutic for Huntington’s Disease through antibody characterisation, iPSC model development, biodistribution studies, imaging and neurodegenerative expertise.

Alchemab Therapeutics

We worked together with MDC on a very challenging and demanding project. The MDC team’s expertise in MSI, commitment and flexibility were key to a successful collaboration and reaching our objectives.

TargTex

MDC are as involved in our project as the founding team, going above and beyond what I expected. I recommend them to new ventures starting out; even if you don’t know exactly what you need, the team can work with you to achieve some phenomenal results.

KLAS Therapeutics

Working with MDC has provided expertise and intellectual input. It has also enabled access to a wider network of companies providing specialist services.

N4 Pharma

By tapping into MDC’s unique drug development expertise and facilities, we are confident we will accelerate the preclinical development of our drug delivery system and its commercialisation.

Sixfold Bioscience

It has been a pleasure working with MDC as their scientists are pleasant and have a broad range of talents.
Importantly for projects like ours, they openly and professionally exchange ideas with SMi’s scientific team and keep us abreast of their research developments.

SMi Systems

It has been great to access the Artificial Intelligence expertise at Medicines Discovery Catapult.
The team has taken an innovative approach that adds value to our product and will benefit our customers.

BioAscent

As an SME, working with MDC allows us access to scientific know-how and in vivo imaging techniques that would be impossible through any other route. The closeness, timeliness and flexibility of the collaboration significantly accelerated our ability to develop the product.

Xerion Healthcare

We have collaborated with MDC for three years, and it continues to provide valuable and high-quality data on our molecules. MDC’s input has directly impacted operational and strategic decisions for our projects and allowed us to move forward with our clinical studies.

Revolo Biotherapeutics

For early-stage SMEs in this space, I thoroughly recommend engaging with MDC, who have the end-to-end knowledge in complex medicines, can support your in-house team and provide access to key equipment that start-ups may not have.

pHion Therapeutics








Ready to enhance your Immunology strategy?

Our team of experienced immunologists is here to help you understand your drug discovery project and tailor solutions to your specific research goals.

Fill in the form today and speak to us to see how we can help advance your drug discovery project.







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