EMA develops framework for closer relationship with academia

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has developed a framework to formalise, structure and further develop interactions with the academic community regarding the European medicines regulatory network.

“Academia play an important role in helping the EU medicines regulatory network keep abreast of the opportunities and challenges brought by science, be it in the context of the development, assessment or safety monitoring of medicines,” noted Guido Rasi, EMA’s executive director. “The framework will allow us to integrate cutting-edge scientific knowledge more tightly into our activities. It will also help academic start-ups benefit from advice from the EU regulatory network to translate their discoveries into patient-focused medicines.”

In addition to the framework, EMA has developed an action plan, including initiatives for mutual education and training, staff exchange programmes to promote mutual learning, a strategic research agenda for regulatory science and the creation of an EMA entry point for academia to receive information on available support within the EU regulatory network.