The collaborative forum is intended to facilitate the translation of scientific research findings into clinical trials and, eventually, clinical practice.
Immuno-oncology focuses on the potential of body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
Along with BMS, II-ON is comprised of ten cancer-research institutions including Clinica Universidad Navarra, Pamplona, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Institut Gustave Roussy, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale", Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, and The University of Chicago.
BMS Research and Development executive vice president chief scientific officer and president Elliott Sigal said the II-ON facilitates a public-private partnership that will leverage intellectual capabilities across a global network.
"The shared commitment of all those participating in this collaboration is to evolve our understanding of immuno-oncology towards our ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes," Sigal added.