DURHAM, N.C.– Kincell Bio Inc., a leading cell therapy contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Duke University School of Medicine to accelerate innovation in cell and gene therapy research. The collaboration aims to strengthen translational pathways and develop scalable, efficient manufacturing solutions for advanced biologics.
Under the agreement, Kincell Bio and Duke will jointly explore opportunities to align academic research with industrial expertise, fostering collaboration between discovery, development, and manufacturing. A joint steering committee will guide the partnership, co-chaired by Bruce Thompson, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer at Kincell Bio, and Beth Shaz, M.D., Deputy Director of the Marcus Center for Cellular Cures (MC3) and Professor of Pathology at Duke University.
The collaboration will focus on three primary areas: coordinated program support between Kincell Bio and MC3 to streamline clinical trial design, donor screening, regulatory submissions, and clinical-to-commercial scale manufacturing; joint evaluation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning for process optimization and data integration; and expanded support for translational research through co-developed tools, shared grant initiatives, and academic–industry education programs.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to building an integrated biotech ecosystem in North Carolina and beyond,” said Thompson. “We look forward to accelerating the path from discovery to patient impact.”
“We want to bring innovative therapies closer to the patients who need them,” said Shaz. “Integrating tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning into our research workflows allows us to advance translational science and create new pathways for faculty innovations to achieve clinical impact and improve patient outcomes.”
The partnership strengthens North Carolina’s growing reputation as a hub for cell and gene therapy innovation, positioning Kincell Bio and Duke University as key collaborators in shaping the future of regenerative medicine, regulatory strategy, and scalable biomanufacturing.
