“It is very gratifying that the foundation can develop this important centre along with the University and the regional authority”, said Peter Wallenberg Jr, chair of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
The centre will focus on diseases of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory tract and blood, as well as cardiovascular and endocrine diseases. Endocrine diseases are diseases caused by incorrect functioning of hormone glands, for example diabetes, goitre and osteoporosis.
Regenerative medicine involves repairing, replacing or regenerating damaged or lost tissue and its functions. This can be done by transplanting stem cells grown in the laboratory or the patient’s own stem cells that are activated to develop into the desired cell type. It is also important to understand the body’s ability to repair itself and how inflammation, infection and medication can influence this process.
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation is providing funding of SEK 225 million for the new centre over the period 2015–2025, primarily in the form of grants for career development positions for young researchers. In autumn 2014, a similar initiative was presented at the University of Gothenburg. The aim is to return Swedish research to a world-leading position in the field.
“The foundation is making major investments in life science. We plan to award SEK 1.7 billion over a ten-year period to establish a network of the top researchers in the country, to complement SciLifeLab in the Stockholm–Uppsala region. Another important ingredient is greater collaboration between basic research, clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry”, said Peter Wallenberg Jr.
“We are very pleased with the foundation’s long-term investment in Lund. It enables us to recruit excellent young researchers and support their development into outstanding research leaders in molecular medicine. The Centre for Molecular Medicine will also work in close collaboration with other research centres in Sweden to strengthen the national research in the field”, said Torbjörn von Schantz, Vice-Chancellor of Lund University.
“Lund University has established networks of excellent research and a long tradition of translational research through close collaboration between the University, Region Skåne and industry. Access to large biobanks, modern technology and infrastructure means that we can reach the absolute forefront of research in molecular medicine”, said Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University.
In order to guarantee that the research conducted is also relevant to patients and benefits them, there are strong links to healthcare. Region Skåne is therefore also providing funding of SEK 150 million for the centre. In addition, Lund University is investing SEK 160 million.
“This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen advanced research at the University and in the region in fields where our collaboration is already drawing international attention. Research findings benefit seriously ill patients and collaboration with the life science industry is being enhanced”, said Jonas Rastad, Chief Executive Officer of Region Skåne.
Contact:
Göran Sandberg, Executive Member, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, +46 8 545 017 80, kaw [at] kaw [dot] se
Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, +46 46 222 80 84, +46 705 946360, gunilla [dot] westergren-thorsson [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (gunilla[dot]westergren-thorsson[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)
Jonas Rastad, Chief Executive Officer, Region Skåne, +46 44 309 39 25, Jonas [dot] Rastad [at] skane [dot] se (Jonas[dot]Rastad[at]skane[dot]se)