Feature
BiotechTV: Professor Matthew Wood on Accelerating Rare Disease Drug Development
March 06, 2026
In a recent BiotechTV interview, Professor Matthew Wood, Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (OHC), discusses how the Centre is advancing drug development for rare diseases through a unique transatlantic partnership between the University of Oxford and Harrington Discovery Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.
He highlights the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholar Award, open to researchers the UK, US, and Canada, which funds ten new therapeutic programs each year. Scholars receive not only funding, but also translational and commercial expertise to help move promising rare disease discoveries toward the clinic.
Professor Wood also outlines details about OHC’s Accelerator, plans for a dedicated rare disease investment fund, and the importance of regulatory developments, such as changes at the MHRA, in helping bring innovative treatments to patients faster.