On May 18, AbbVie opened a 43,000-square-foot Cambridge Research Center in the Cambridge, Massachusetts, biotech corridor. At the Cambridge Research Center, we will perform research to gain a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease.
The goal is to identify novel therapeutic approaches that may ultimately be used to treat patients. Plus, our research may have implications for other neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.
The close proximity of biotechnology and university laboratories will provide opportunities for potential partnerships with other companies and collaborations with leading academic institutions.
“As we gain a deeper understanding of the underlying biology that drives Alzheimer's disease, we aim to select drug targets that are more likely to produce transformational new therapies,” says Jim Summers, Ph.D., vice president, neuroscience discovery research, AbbVie. “Our strong competency in drug discovery and clinical development combined with the academic research community’s understanding of the underlying biology of Alzheimer's should produce the potential for exciting new therapeutic advances.”
AbbVie employs nearly 900 employees in Massachusetts, including our global center for immunology research in Worcester. Approximately 50 scientists and clinicians will be hired to staff the Cambridge Research Center.
Eric Karran, Ph.D., vice president, Cambridge Research Center, will lead the center. Dr. Karran is an internationally renowned Alzheimer's expert with an extensive network of contacts within the academic research community.
