Novo Nordisk has formed a research collaboration with the University of Oxford  in the UK for the development of Type 2 diabetes under which Novo Nordisk will invest around Danish kroner (DKK) 1 billion ($143 million) in a new research center on the University of Oxford’s premises.

The DKK 1-billion investment will be made over a period of 10 years, and the Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford will employ up to 100 Novo Nordisk researchers. The center will focus on innovation within early-stage research that has potential to impact future treatment of Type 2 diabetes and its complications.

The collaboration will actively seek to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas between academic researchers from the University of Oxford and researchers employed by Novo Nordisk with funds to sponsor the collaborative research.

James D. Johnson, professor, PhD, has been appointed head of the Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford. Dr. Johnson is a known researcher in the fundamental biology of pancreatic islets, insulin action, diabetes, and related conditions. He is currently professor at the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia.

Novo Nordisk and University of Oxford have had a collaboration since 2013 through an international postdoctoral fellowship program that was extended in 2015 and will include up to 32 fellows.

Source: Novo Nordisk