{"id":1219,"date":"2022-04-09T09:17:57","date_gmt":"2022-04-09T09:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/?page_id=1219"},"modified":"2022-06-07T09:27:06","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T09:27:06","slug":"innovation-rising","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/innovation-rising","title":{"rendered":"Innovation rising"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  <style>\n    .vf-hero {\n              --vf-hero--bg-image: url('https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/20220524_AR2021_banners-scaled.jpg');\n            }\n\n  <\/style>\n<section id=\"\" class=\"vf-hero | vf-u-fullbleed  | vf-u-margin__bottom--0\">\n  <div class=\"vf-hero__content | vf-box | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n        <h1 class=\"vf-hero__heading\">\n              Annual Report 2021          <\/h1>\n\n        <p class=\"vf-hero__subheading\">A year of exceptional life science research, training, service, industry collaboration, and integration of European life science research.<\/p>\n    \n    \n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<!--\/vf-hero-->\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Innovation rising<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nurturing the process from the lab bench to new therapeutics through collaborations.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"602\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PRO_Keyvisual_Proteomics_in_Cell_Biology-m-2.jpg\" alt=\"Graphic representation with mix of molecules, dna representation and other biologic symbols\" class=\"wp-image-639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PRO_Keyvisual_Proteomics_in_Cell_Biology-m-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PRO_Keyvisual_Proteomics_in_Cell_Biology-m-2-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/PRO_Keyvisual_Proteomics_in_Cell_Biology-m-2-768x462.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb have joined up with EMBL and other European academic clusters of excellence in life sciences to advance innovative research in therapeutics and related technologies. Credit: Petra Riedinger\/EMBL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, EMBL scientists joined forces with industry scientists via multiple partnerships that aimed to further research and spur innovative solutions to tackle human disease and increase biotechnology and agricultural impacts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a collaboration set up by EMBLEM in 2017, EMBL and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biorn.org\/member\/Cellzome-GmbH%2C-a-GSK-company\">GSK Cellzome<\/a> continued to expand their alliance in a bid to use cutting-edge technologies and world-class science to develop better drugs. In 2021, this collaboration initiated eight new joint projects with a focus on wet and dry multi-omics and spatial omics analysis methods to enable mechanistic insights into target and drug function. The collaboration&#8217;s 2021 Science Day relayed the new scientific directions at both organisations, invigorated ideas for future collaborative projects, and featured the highly successful projects carried out in the joint fellowship programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"vf-figure  | vf-figure--align vf-figure--align-inline-end  size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"180\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2021_LEACH_PROTACtable_genome_1000x600-300x180.jpeg\" alt=\"Proteasome targeting unwanted proteins.\" class=\"wp-image-645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2021_LEACH_PROTACtable_genome_1000x600-300x180.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2021_LEACH_PROTACtable_genome_1000x600-768x461.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2021_LEACH_PROTACtable_genome_1000x600.jpeg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">An artist\u2019s interpretation of the proteasome targeting unwanted proteins. Credit: Karen Arnott\/EMBL<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The public-private partnership <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opentargets.org\/\">Open Targets<\/a> expanded to five partners in 2021 to include<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebi.ac.uk\/\"> EMBL-EBI<\/a>, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanger.ac.uk\/\"> Wellcome Sanger Institute<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsk.com\/en-gb\/home\/\"> GSK<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bms.com\/\"> Bristol Myers Squibb<\/a>, and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sanofi.com\/\"> Sanofi<\/a>. The partnership uses information from genome sequencing and genetics studies to systematically improve identification and prioritisation of drug targets for safe, effective medicines for use in neurobiology, cancer, and other human health conditions. Open Targets is committed to openly sharing experimental data and information gathered within its consortium with the broader scientific community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, while rewriting its computational target validation platform, the platform shared 2.72 terabytes of data, resulting in several significant publications. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/the-protactable-genome-a-new-route-to-drug-discovery\/\">One such paper<\/a> identified 1,067 previously unidentified proteins of the human proteome \u2013 something that will contribute significantly to advancing an emerging drug modality known as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). These show promise in treating diseases where current therapeutics are inadequate, for example, in several cancers and neurological conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, EMBL entered into a collaboration with <a href=\"https:\/\/enzymicals.com\/\">Enzymicals<\/a>, a biocatalyst developer and producer, to leverage a novel computational tool developed by the Thornton group at EMBL-EBI,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebi.ac.uk\/thornton-srv\/transform-miner\/\"> Transform-MinER<\/a>. With the technical expertise at Enzymicals, this sophisticated computational tool will accelerate the development of novel, valuable biosynthetic pathways of high-impact chemicals. Transform-MinER has the potential to replace inefficient and energy-intensive traditional chemical syntheses with green biotechnology that produce specialty and commodity chemicals, medicines, flavours, or fragrances in an environmental- and consumer-friendly way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>EMBL is also part of <a href=\"https:\/\/embl-em.de\/latest-news\/2021\/04\/13\/evotec-launches-belab2122-translating-academic-innovation-from-leading-german-life-science-region-in-collaboration-with-bristol-myers-squibb\/\">beLAB2122<\/a>, a new industry-academia partnership in the Rhine-Main-Neckar region launched in 2021 that will accelerate research for promising drugs. EMBL and four other universities joined up with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.evotec.com\/en\">Evotec<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bms.com\/\">Bristol Myers Squibb<\/a> to advance innovative research in therapeutics and related technologies. The idea is based on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.evotec.com\/en\/innovate\/bridges\"> Evotec\u2019s BRIDGE model<\/a> aiming to translate early-stage work from academia into drugs and therapies. This is the first such BRIDGE collaboration in Germany.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<div style=\"height:163px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"vf-embed vf-embed--16x9\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Open Targets - Quick and easy drug target identification\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/R1Ds70r4ejs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-profile vf-profile--very-easy vf-profile--medium vf-profile--block | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"181\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/jon_t.jpg\" class=\"vf-profile__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" \/>\n    <h3 class=\"vf-profile__title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n                                <\/h3>\n    \n    \n    \n      \n\n    \n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--2\"><em><meta charset=\"utf-8\">\u201cIn 2021, it was great to be supported by EMBLEM and move closer to our dream of reducing environmental pollution by reaching out and signing commercial deals with industrial partners.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left  vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><em>\u2014<\/em>  Jon Tyzack, Senior Software Engineer in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebi.ac.uk\/research-beta\/thornton\/\">Thornton Group<\/a>, EMBL-EBI, whose software identifies green and clean ways to make chemicals with enzymes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-profile vf-profile--very-easy vf-profile--medium vf-profile--block | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Louise-ModisCROPPED.jpg\" class=\"vf-profile__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Louise-ModisCROPPED.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Louise-ModisCROPPED-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>\n    <h3 class=\"vf-profile__title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n                                <\/h3>\n    \n    \n    \n      \n\n    \n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--2\"><em>\u201cThe outstanding environment for scientific innovation and collaboration at EMBL fuels not only academic discoveries but also has an impact on international development of medicines. The EMBL-GSK Cellzome collaboration is just one example, where shared projects and lively discussions led to ways to apply emerging technologies and develop new therapies.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left  vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">\u2013 Louise Modis, Chief Scientific Officer at Mogrify; PhD at EMBL, 1995-1999<\/p>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-profile vf-profile--very-easy vf-profile--medium vf-profile--block | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"266\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/giovanna_-lisaplushantke-266x300.jpg\" class=\"vf-profile__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/giovanna_-lisaplushantke-266x300.jpg 266w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/giovanna_-lisaplushantke.jpg 283w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 266px) 100vw, 266px\" \/>\n    <h3 class=\"vf-profile__title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n                                <\/h3>\n    \n    \n    \n      \n\n    \n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--2\"><em>\u201cCutting-edge technologies are revolutionising our understanding of biology but depend on strategic investment. Public and private sectors need to join forces to enable the transformational potential that research has on our lives.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left  vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\">\u2013 Giovanna Bergamini, Senior Director, Cellzome, GSK; EMBL postdoc, 1999-2002<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container  | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light \">\n          <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n            <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<div class=\"embl-grid\"><div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/\">Back to Annual report<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20210922_Heppenstall_1000x600px.jpeg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"Male scientist working in the lab. On the right side, cross section of a nerve observed with a fluorescent microscope\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20210922_Heppenstall_1000x600px.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20210922_Heppenstall_1000x600px-300x180.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/20210922_Heppenstall_1000x600px-768x461.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/start-up-targets-pain-management\" target=\"\">\n        \n        Next Story\n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__subheading\">Start-up targets pain management<\/p>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EMBL Rome alumnus gets funding to transfer innovative technology and apply gene therapy to potential therapeutics.<\/span><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AR2021_PDF_mock-up_AdobeStock_182004081.jpg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\">\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/documents\/document\/annual-report-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        \n        Download the annual report summary \n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\">A snapshot of EMBL 2021 facts and figures<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"vf_template_subpage.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-1219","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1219"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3626,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1219\/revisions\/3626"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=1219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}