GHP November 2016

ghp November 2016 | 27 we can advance and accelerate the development of new and effective pain medications, and make them available to patients more quickly than possible today. We are greatly looking forward to this inter- disciplinary collaboration.” Consortium Research Project Under the direction of Grünenthal, the University Hospital Cologne, the University Hospital Bonn, and the company Life & Brain in Bonn will each contribute their respective expertise to improve the development of new and effective drugs: • Grünenthal, Aachen (Dr. Petra Bloms-Funke, Dr. Gregor Bahrenberg) - emergence and therapy of neuropathic pain; characterisation of specific target proteins in cells (pain targets); identification and selection of new drugs. • University Hospital Bonn (Prof. Oliver Brüstle, Dr. Michael Peitz) - generation and differentiation of stem cells for therapeutic use in the treatment of and research into neurological disorders. • Life & Brain, Bonn (Prof. Oliver Brüstle, Dipl. Biol. Simone Haupt) - application of stem cell technologies for the development of predictive biological test systems. • University Hospital Cologne (Prof. Tim Hucho) - application of a special microscope technology, the so-called High Content Screening procedure, to investigate pain mechanisms and drug effects in pain cells. Funding of bio-medical research and development in North Rhein-Westphalia with resources from the EU and of the Federal State of NRW The Federal State of North Rhein-Westphalia (NRW) initiated the Leitmarktwettbewerb LifeSciences. NRW, a funding competition, in 2015 to develop solutions to challenges in the field of health and well-being for our aging population. This initiative offers funding opportunities for groups of small and medium-sized enterprises, academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies in North Rhein- Westphalia, for innovative projects in research and development with resources provided by the EU and the State of North Rhein-Westphalia. By supporting innovation, the State of North Rhein-Westphalia wishes to secure sustainable growth and employment opportunities, and increase its international visibility as a leading location for Life Sciences. www.grunenthal.com