Innovation and Industry

How the Sanger Institute works with Industry

Our translation team was established in 2011 to help maximise the socioeconomic impact of the Sanger Institute’s discoveries. Members of this team specialise in helping to translate science into products and services and the Institute’s research has already produced marketed technologies that have been realised into benefits for patients in a variety of settings.

When building collaborations we place a strong emphasis on synergy between the institute and our partners rather than financial output or contribution. We believe the most productive relationships are where each partner brings novel capability, or assets, to the project.

Our approach

We hold open dialogue with potential research, clinical and commercial partners so that we can quickly identify areas of common interest and the most appropriate partnering models. Our collaborative work with partners enables us to:

  • Discover and develop information, platform technologies and early- and late-stage products.
  • Facilitate further biomedical research through the creation and supply of genomic technologies and shared resources.

Contact one of the team

What we offer our industry partners

  • Large-scale, high throughput, high-quality research.
  • Access to disruptive genome and biodata innovations developed on industrial scale platforms.
  • A diversity of partnership models across academia, industry and public sector organisations.
  • Deep knowledge and expertise in a focused field.
  • Strong culture of academic and commercial collaboration.
  • BioData Innovation Centre (BIC)- a world-class incubator style space for genome and biodata companies.
  • A growing, unique and highly-connected community of the sector’s brightest minds and most innovative organisations.

To explore how we can work with you, contact us today.

We welcome the opportunity to develop new contacts with interested parties and continually explore how our research can deliver world-class therapies and technologies with commercial and academic partners. We pride ourselves on being flexible and imaginative in adapting our approach to deliver maximum output from every project or relationship. For a list of all current partnership opportunities; browse the technologies page and get in touch today.

Hear from some of our industry and investor partners

Our partnerships

We believe that convergence and coordination both across technology fields, and the public the private and the charitable sectors are key to driving the next wave of genomic innovation. This is why, Sanger’s scientists work in collaboration with a range of industry partners and investors to deliver innovative healthcare solutions to some of society’s most challenging problems such as global tracking and prevention of the spread of infectious diseases and making new cancer medicines.

Watch this video to find out more from our scientists, collaborators, and investors about how Science at Scale is helping to transform the way that we innovate.

We have already partnered with a wide range of commercial organisations, large and small, ranging from investors and the biotech or pharmaceutical companies to reagents and service providers. See also: Open Targets and Partners

Current opportunities for collaboration

Assets and Solutions

In the course of pursuing its research goals the institute develops capability, software, cell lines, organoids, knock out libraries which have wider utility, if you are interested in accessing these technologies contact us at: translationoffice@sanger.ac.uk

Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation

This programme delivers world-leading solutions in data aggregation and informatics. The team behind the gold standard database of cancer somatic mutations, COSMIC, grew out of the Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutations Programme. The programme also develops wet lab resources, high-throughput cellular models of cancer for genome-wide functional screens and drug testing, and explores somatic mutation’s role in clonal evolution, ageing and development. CASM has generated over 200 cancer organoid lines, enabling researchers to work with more accurate models of disease

Cellular Genetics

Explores human gene function by studying the impact of genome variation on cell biology. Large-scale systematic screens are used to discover the impact of naturally-occurring and engineered genome mutations in human iPS cells, their differentiated derivatives, and other cell types. In addition, Sanger Institute scientists are working on systematic single cell analyses of the human body as part of the Human Cell Atlas consortium (link out). Spatial transcriptomic and imaging methods are being developed to explore the tissue and interaction context of multiple targets and pathways. Single cell analysis is already revealing disease mechanisms and novel targets resulting from previously unmapped cell interactions and states.

Human Genetics

Applies genomics to population-scale studies to identify the causal variants and pathways involved in human disease and their effects on cell biology. For example, exploring drug responses and disease variability by mapping in vivo expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) interactions. It also models developmental disorders to explore which physical aspects might be reversible.

Parasites and Microbes

Investigates the common underpinning mechanisms of evolution, infection and resistance to therapy in bacteria and parasites. Sanger scientists have developed innovative pathogen tracking and surveillance tools able to track resistance and outbreaks at a global scale. The programme also explores the genetics of host response to infection and the role of the microbiota in health and disease.

Tree of Life

Investigates the diversity of complex organisms found in the UK through sequencing and cellular technologies. It also compares and contrasts species’ genome sequences to unlock evolutionary insights. The programme will develop more scalable methods of phylogenetic analysis and biological sample processing methods to support its ambitious goals.

Scale your science with Sanger

To set up an informal first meeting with one of our team, please get in touch.