Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. (http://www.talecris.com) announced
today their Talents program is now accepting applications for 2007
research awards. Talents, or Talecris New Trials Support
(http://www.talecristalents.com), is designed to advance basic and
clinical research addressing the use of intravenous immunoglobulin
(IGIV) in antibody replacement as well as immune modulation therapies.
Talents research grants total approximately $1 million annually and
provide an important source of funding for research scientists
investigating the cause and treatment of immune disorders.
Through August 15, investigators are invited to submit a letter of
intent (LOI) for review by the Talents Evaluation Committee, which is
comprised of Talecris scientists as well as experts in neurology,
immunology, hematology, and other disciplines as needed. Upon LOI
approval by the Evaluation Committee, investigators will receive a
full application form to be completed by October 15. Selection of
proposals for funding will be based on scientific merit, quality of
applicant and research environment, and consistency with the overall
Talents program goals. Funding decisions will be made in late 2007,
and Talents award recipients will be announced in early 2008.
Alberto Martinez, M.D., President and CEO of Talecris
Biotherapeutics, spoke about how the Talents program reinforces
Talecris' ongoing commitment to IGIV research. "Talecris dedicates
significant resources to discovering and developing new innovations
that will advance care for patients with immune disorders. We remain
committed to expanding our own ongoing R&D efforts by sponsoring
external research programs such as Talents."
In 2006, its inaugural year, Talents grants were made to seven
investigators in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The grants funded studies ranging from a multicenter clinical registry
to establish the efficacy of IGIV in patients with chronic
inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) who do not meet
normal diagnostic criteria to basic cellular mechanisms by which IGIV
mediates immune response. Awarded investigators represented major
universities, clinics, and institutions including the University of
Calgary (Canada), Children's Research Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio
(U.S.), University of Oxford (U.K.), Phoenix Neurological Associates
(U.S.), University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (U.S.), Cedars-Sinai
Medical Center of Los Angeles (U.S.), and University of Toronto
(Canada).
Dr. Melvin Berger, Children's Research Foundation of Cleveland,
Cleveland, Ohio, one of seven investigators receiving an inaugural
Talents grant, spoke about the program. "The grant we received is
providing critical funding for our research examining subcutaneous
versus intravenous routes of immune globulin administration in
preclinical models of neuromuscular disease. The Talents program is an
outstanding model for industry-supported academic research, and we
applaud the Talecris commitment to advancing the understanding of
immune disorders and the role of IGIV treatment."
Rene McRogers is Deputy Director of Scientific Relations and
Communications and the Talents Program Chair at Talecris
Biotherapeutics. "Now that we are accepting LOIs for 2007, we are
looking forward to increasing the number beyond the more than 50 we
received in 2006. On behalf of the Talents Evaluation Committee, I
invite all interested investigators to consider Talents as a possible
funding source for their IGIV-related research project."
All information about the Talents program, including how to apply,
is available on Talecris' Talents Web site, www.talecristalents.com.
About Talecris Biotherapeutics: Inspiration. Dedication.
Innovation.
Talecris Biotherapeutics is a global biotherapeutic and
biotechnology company that discovers, develops and produces critical
care treatments for people with life-threatening disorders in a
variety of therapeutic areas including immunology, pulmonology, and
hemostasis. Talecris is proudly building upon a 60-year legacy of
innovation and a commitment to improving the lives of people who rely
on its therapeutic products. With an emphasis on scientific inquiry
and technological excellence, Talecris is expanding its current
portfolio of products, programs, and services through its own
world-class product development organization as well as through
strategic initiatives that leverage its strengths with those of its
partners.
Talecris, which earned revenues exceeding $1.1 billion in 2006, is
headquartered in biotech hub Research Triangle Park, N.C., and employs
more than 3,000 talented people worldwide.
To learn more about Talecris and how our employees are making a
difference in the lives of patients and the healthcare community,
visit www.talecris.com or www.talecrisplasma.com.
