Human samples of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients from Finland stored in the FHRB BioBank with informed consents and the corresponding molecular profiles were used in this study. In vitro potency data for several compounds were collected using luminescence- and fluorescence-based cell viability and toxicity measurements and high throughput flow cytometry readout at FIMM.
Mutual understanding in project contents was crucial. Well-structured project and regular meetings helped everyone on the project to understand complex laboratory assays. Having precisely written plans and protocols may be challenging in research oriented academic environment, but it really helped to keep focus and meet agreed upon timelines. The project had well defined workflows and responsibilities. Along the way, we noticed it was essential to establish novel laboratory assays in order to better understand the behaviour of AML cells. Having the ability to be flexible on both sides and to adjust the project quickly ensured that relevant data were obtained.
Project members from Bayer AG participated at ‘FIMM Meets Pharma’ networking events to get an even deeper understanding what FIMM has to offer and to discuss what a pharmaceutical industry expects from FIMM.
Face-to-face meetings helped us to get to know each other and to build good and reliable relationship. I personally enjoyed having had the opportunity of visiting the campus of Bayer AG in Berlin, Germany. Benefits of this research collaboration were the possibilities to gain deeper understanding of cell behavior, to develop technologies and to acquire drug effect comparison data.
Tanja Ruokoranta, HTB Unit