Clinical stage biotechnology company TC BioPharm and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in the UK have announced a partnership to study gamma-delta T cells' potential for treating mucosal infections. 

The Impact Fund arm of QMUL earlier granted funding for the partnership.

As per the agreement, TC BioPharm will join forces with the lab of Dr Neil McCarthy, immunology lecturer at QMUL.

The research project also includes funding from the Queen Mary Impact Fund for the study. 

The lab of McCarthy studies host-pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces, with a special emphasis on gamma delta T-cells and their function in offering gut barrier protection against microbial infection and inflammation. 

Through the collaboration, the parties will work on learning the dysregulation of the gamma delta T-cell’s activity following infectious and inflammatory ailments.

The research will also analyse the potential of new agonist/antagonist immunotherapies in restoring this activity.

TC BioPharm CEO Bryan Kobel said: “This is an exciting opportunity for our company and QMUL, the collaboration is a good starting point for both groups with the potential to extend into future engagements and asset spinoffs, while simultaneously expanding the TCB-008 platform into new indications. 

“We believe the data set here and in future endeavours will further showcase the therapeutic benefit of the gamma delta T-cells, centring around their role in immunotherapy's future.”