Sigma-Aldrich, VIB ink alliance on novel translational research tools
Sigma-Aldrich's research business unit, which supports translational researchers by supplying the products, services and solutions needed to enable scientific discovery, has formed an alliance with VIB, a life science research institute based in Flanders, Belgium, focused on translational research in medical, agricultural and industrial applications. The alliance will focus on the commercialization and supply of new tools and technologies to help meet the evolving needs of translational researchers.
Beginning this year, St. Louis, Mo.-based Sigma-Aldrich and VIB will collaborate to provide the latest emerging tools and technologies that have demonstrated benefit for translational research and solutions to the challenges that scientists face. Utilizing Sigma-Aldrich's R&D and manufacturing capabilities, along with its global distribution network, the alliance will help to accelerate and enhance the commercial development and availability of VIB's research tools and technologies for researchers.
"Too often, valuable research tools that may lead to novel therapeutics or agricultural applications remain within the walls of the originating laboratory," said Sean Muthian, Ph.D., MBA, director of global strategic marketing and partnerships for Sigma-Aldrich. "Through our alliance with VIB, we'll be able to provide scientists with cutting-edge tools and technologies that otherwise would not be available to them in an expedited fashion. This will enable researchers to have faster access to leading resources to more efficiently conduct their research and, ultimately, advance scientific discovery."
The alliance with VIB is part of Sigma-Aldrich's continued commitment to supplying researchers with the products, resources and support they need for their research, as well as address evolving needs and concerns, such as research reproducibility concerns. The VIB collaboration is the second partnership of its kind that Sigma-Aldrich has made to expand its portfolio and provide new innovations and products. Sigma-Aldrich recently announced an agreement with Scripps Research Institute to accelerate the commercialization of research reagents.
"Through our work performing basic scientific research into the foundational mechanisms of life and translating these results into medical, agricultural and industrial applications, our scientists often break new ground, developing tools and technologies that solve many contemporary research questions," said Johan Cardoen, Ph.D., managing director for VIB. "This collaboration with Sigma-Aldrich will ensure that the broader research community can gain from our discoveries, advancing science even further."