Takeda Areas of Scientific Interest

Game-changing’ approaches to address unmet needs in hematological malignancies.
Approaches to convert immunogenic tumor subtypes from ‘cold-to-hot’, as well as enabling translational sciences.
Tumor-targeted immune redirection approaches leveraging novel tumor-associated antigens and novel platforms (e.g. next-gen cell engagers and cell therapies).

To generate breakthrough CNS precision medicines based on clinical observations and patient tissue, cell and biofluid based research (including iPSC analyses/3D culture technology) in both psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.
Programmes of highest interest are likely to focus on
- Schizophrenia (negative symptoms and cognitive impairment), autism spectrum disorder, mood disorders (treatment-resistant depression and bipolar disorder)
- Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (including peripheral innuno-modulation for treatment of these diseases)
Ideally research programmes will incorporate some or all of the following elements: 1) novel target or MoA, 2) disease relevant pre-clinical models for HTS, target validation, or mechanistic/efficacy studies, 3) patient stratification strategy and 4) surrogate efficacy biomarker options
Biology and Technologies of highest interest in
- Novel epigenome-editing and RNA editing / non-coding RNAs in disease development
- Exosome / extracellular vesicles research (Exosome population profiling, sorting technology using sugar chain, membrane protein etc)

Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Projects will address novel mechanisms of action in IBD, including microbiome-host interactions, resident immune cell responses, mucosal homeostasis and repair.
GI Motility Disorders. Projects which aim to understand enteric nervous system control of GI motility, particularly in the context of neuropathy as is seen in chronic constipation associated with Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Novel mechanisms of control of nausea and vomiting. Interest in stem cell therapy approaches to treat enteropathies associated with GI motility dysfunction.
Liver disease. Research focus is on liver fibrosis and strategies for regeneration/cell therapy.

Projects that propose innovative therapies for intractable diseases or regenerative medicine utilizing iPSCs
Ranging from basic platforms to translational technologies, multidisciplinary approaches are encouraged, such as:
- Disease modeling, including organoid technologies
- Novel cell/gene therapy or gene editing approaches
- Tissue-specific gene delivery systems
- Approaches addressing safety and durability of transplanted cells for a clinical setting

Sanford Consortium