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About Scott Johnson

October 19, 2011

A conversation with Scott Johnson about the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS), an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Q: What is NCATS?

A: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences is an initiative of Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health. In recognition of the poor translation of government-funded research into real medicines for patients, the NCATS is designed to fund studies that are necessary for translating basic science into commercially viable treatment targets. The House of Representatives is currently considering the funding request that will transfer a small portion of the NIH's budget to this Center.

Q: Why is NCATS important?

A: It has been clear to us for some time that there is a bottleneck between the science produced in academic laboratories and the criteria industry requires for advancing the basic science. The creation of NCATS and Dr. Collins's skill at articulating the need are putting this problem front and center. The media has done a good job of educating the public on the business challenges that pharma faces with respect to the cost of bringing a new drug to market and the considerable reduction in profits they are facing with so many drugs going off patent. They've also done a good job reporting on promising basic science. But the failure to move basic science from academic laboratories into commercial development isn't well understood, and frankly, it may be the biggest problem that needs attention. Solving it is a win for academia, pharma and most important patients.

Q: How do we get better alignment between academic scientists and pharma?

A: One way is to do what NCATS proposes and that we are specifically doing in myelin repair. Fund and conduct the further studies that will offer more conclusive evidence to pharma that a given discovery made in an academic lab has real and true potential for leading to a new therapeutic. The reality is that most basic science generated about disease comes from studies done in animal models and there is a very poor record of translation to humans. There is clear opportunity here. But the proof will be in the implementation and management of the process.

Q: What are NCATS opportunities?

A: They have a significant infrastructure in place already which takes time and resources to build. Utilizing what they already have for another purpose is the best asset they have.

Q: What are NCATS challenges?

A: The biggest challenge may be funding. Will Congress approve the funds to get the project moving forward? And will those funds be continuous. This is very expensive work and there is no money to be made directly from doing it so the funding needs to be solid. In our case, we rely primarily on philanthropic dollars from individuals and organizations that either have a tie to MS and/or who would like to see improved outcomes from basic research. Further, our success has been in large measure due to the fact that we have a very narrow focus on myelin repair. Because NCATS will be on a much larger scale for multiple diseases, managing the programs toward clear milestones and goals will be even more important. At this point, any effort to get from the bench to the bedside should be given great credence. The translational work that NCATS proposes and that we are doing in myelin repair could be the single most critical rate-limiting step for making that happen.

Q: If NCATS is funded, are there funding opportunities for the MRF through their awards?

A: We hope that will be the case. We have had conversations with Dr. Collins staff and he is aware of our work. Once the dust settles, if there is opportunity there, we will certainly pursue it.

Scott Johnson
President