Tri-I TDI expands focus to include antibody drug discovery

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, The Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medicine are to expand the focus of the Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (Tri-I TDI).

Tri-I TDI was established in 2013 to bridge the gap between groundbreaking early-stage academic research discoveries and the development of new diagnostic or therapeutic agents. Tri-I TDI supports translational research across the Tri-I community by leveraging the expertise of all three academic institutions and its industry partner, Takeda. Under this expansion, Tri-I TDI will extend its current relationship with Takeda from the realm of small molecule discovery into the new research area of antibody drug discovery. All three institutions will benefit from Tri-I TDI’s expansion.

Commenting on the expanded focus of Tri-I TDI, Dr Augustine Choi, interim dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of growing our strong Tri-I TDI partnership, where we continue to tackle important health questions and improve drug development efficiency. Through our current work, we’ve established a streamlined process to apply our breakthrough research into clinical application and look forward to adding antibody knowledge into our expanding range of capabilities.”

Dr Marc Tessier-Lavigne, president of The Rockefeller University, added: “With the addition of its antibody programme, TDI will go even further, jumpstarting the development of an additional type of therapy for poorly treated diseases.”

Takeda contributes scientists and knowledge

As Tri-I TDI’s sole industry partner, Takeda contributes a team of experienced chemists and pharmacologists, along with a wealth of institutional knowledge and best practices gained from its position as an established industry leader in the pharmaceutical sector.

Philanthropy is helping to drive discoveries at the Tri-I TDI. The three institutions received an initial $15 million gift from Lewis and Ali Sanders to launch the Tri-I TDI and, recently, a second $15 million gift from the couple to grow its mission. The institute is also funded through direct contributions from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, The Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medicine. An important aspect of the institute continues to be the Sanders Innovation and Education Initiative, which lends organisational infrastructure, project management, director salary support, education for a new generation of drug discovery scientists, and in-lab support of faculty to drive the institute’s innovative mission.

“As we look ahead to what’s next, beyond small molecule drug discovery, this flagship collaboration will continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical research,” said Andrew Plump, Takeda’s chief medical and scientific officer. “We at Takeda understand the value of, and connection between, innovation and external collaboration. This is why we are so pleased to continue our relationship with the Tri-I TDI and help expand its mission to move toward novel research frontiers such as antibody drug discovery.”