Academic-industry Collaborations in Translational Stroke Research

Abstract

Academic-industry collaborations are an emerging format of translational stroke research. Next to classic contract research models, a multitude of collaboration models has been developed, some of which even allowing for multinational or intercontinental research programs. This development has recently been paralleled by first successful attempts to overcome the translational stroke research road block, such as the unprecedented success of novel endovascular approaches or the advent of the multicenter preclinical trial concept. While the first underlines the role of the industry as a major innovation driver in stroke research, the latter will require enrollment of industrial partners for optimal output. Moreover, academic-industry partnerships are invaluable to bridge the translational "valley of death" as well as funding gaps in times of dwindling public funding and declining high risk capital investments. However, these collaborations are also subject to relevant challenges because interests, values, and aims often significantly differ between cademia and industry. Here, we describe common academic-industry collaboration models as well as associated benefits and challenges in the stroke research arena. We also suggest strategies for improved planning, implementation, guidance, and utilization of academic-industry collaborations to the maximum mutual benefit.

Cell Therapy in Stroke—Cautious Steps Towards a Clinical Treatment

“…Although highly clinically relevant, this might be challenging due to higher mortality and variability in outcomes (32). Since it is unlikely that all potentially relevant models would be available in a single laboratory, collaborative pre-clinical multicentre projects utilizing a range of models could be undertaken both as an academic collaboration and as a commercial approach that would also strengthen confidence in data and provide a more robust estimate of likely effect sizes (33). The first trials with independent academic centers have proven the feasibility of adopting such a coordinated approach (34).…”

Neurointervention: a call to science

“…Given the tremendous success of the present model, one could argue that private sector investment is sufficient. Although I agree that development of device and imaging technologies is being done with the highest scientific integrity by industry and industrial-academic partnerships realizing a rapid pace of innovation and commercialization,15 I would argue that hypothesis-driven research to interrogate the underlying pathogenesis of cerebrovascular disease and healing response to interventional treatment remains underserved.…”

To Improve Translational Research in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

“…Pre-clinically, multimodal imaging can noninvasively generate data on a range of parameters, allowing the animal to be recovered for subsequent behavioral testing and/or the brain taken for further molecular or histological analysis, and resulting in saving animals and costs [19]. In addition, academic-industry collaborations are needed to overcome the translational stroke research roadblock, such as the advent of the multicenter preclinical trial concept [20]. Although the guidelines stem from the need to assess neuroprotection for acute ischemic stroke, they have been applied to the evaluation of other treatments, interventions, and fields of neuroscience with or without a modification [21][22][23][24][25][26].…”