Feature
Bio Tech Profile Feature in PharmaSource
March 03, 2026
“We embed industry expertise directly into academia through our Scholar Award program, which provides a mini‑biotech/pharma team to each Oxford‑Harrington Scholar we support,” says Matthew Anderson, Co‑Director of the Oxford‑Harrington Rare Disease Centre.
Each Scholar receives drug development, commercial strategy, and business development support, an approach designed to move discoveries to patients faster.
At the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (OHC), this model is redefining how rare disease medicines are developed. By pairing University of Oxford’s deep research strengths with Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals translational expertise, the OHC is creating a clear path from academic discovery to clinical readiness.
The results are already taking shape. In 2025, the Centre announced its second cohort of 10 Rare Disease Scholars, advancing treatments for neurological, immune, metabolic, and cancer‑related conditions using gene therapies, RNA‑based therapeutics, enzyme replacement strategies, and targeted medicines.
We bring industry‑grade development capabilities directly to academic innovators and accelerate the creation of medicines for the 95% of rare diseases still without approved treatments.
