Major Vinnova and SRC grant for a new cell- and gene therapy centre

Karolinska Institutet and the Karolinska University Hospital will play core roles as Vinnova and the Swedish Research Council (SRC) grant SEK 48 million to the up building of a centre for development of advanced medical products within cell and gene therapies.

The centre, to be known as the Centre for Advanced Medical Products (CAMP), will be led by Pontus Blomberg, acting head of Karolinska Cell Therapy Centre at Karolinska University Hospital and associated professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine at KI. Matti Sällberg, Professor and head of the Department of Laboratory Medicine, will be a member of the centre’s board.

“The investment in CAMP is very gratifying and of great strategic national importance”, says Pontus Blomberg.

The areas of cell and gene therapies are gaining ground fast, and products based on cells and genes can already be found as approved drugs. Intensive research is conducted in both Swedish academia and industry to develop the areas further. The grant will support these efforts and the objective is for the centre to be an internationally recognized player in the development of new treatments, and to contribute to national industrial growth within the field.

CAMP will have a broad national base with collaborating parties from academia, research institutes, the health and medical care sector, the pharmaceutical industry and bioengineering companies.