Public-private partnership and independent? Yes, it is possible.

“Public-private partnerships can bridge the gap between dementia research and practical application—provided they are set up correctly.” In this podcast, you’ll learn how to do just that.

Personal stories

Collaboration between academic researchers and companies can enhance the societal impact of dementia research. But how does such public-private partnership (PPP) play out in practice? That is the subject of this podcast.

Is academic independence maintained? What challenges arise, and how can they be overcome? And what exactly do PPPs yield—for dementia research and for academia itself? Assistant Professor Dr. Inge Verberk (Amsterdam UMC & ABOARD consortium) and Head of Business Development Dr. Ann De Vos (biotech company Fujirebio Europe) provide the answers.

Also joining the conversation are podcast hosts Dr. Jeroen Vlug (Senior Researcher at DEMPACT partner Movisie) and Dr. Saartje Burgmans (Impact Manager for Corporate Partnerships at DEMPACT).

Listen now via Springcast, Spotify, or YouTube.

In a public-private partnership (PPP), public and private entities collaborate on a shared goal, with shared responsibility and agreements regarding the sharing of risks, costs, and revenues. Saartje Burgmans explains: “It involves a long-term partnership, not a grant, sponsorship, or one-off assignment.”

A PPP combines the knowledge of scientists with the market insight, product development capabilities, financing, and implementation expertise of companies. Consequently, a PPP yields knowledge not only about whether something works but also about how it actually reaches people with dementia (and their loved ones) and care professionals. “That is why a PPP can bridge the gap between research and practice,” emphasizes Burgmans.

ABOARD: 30 partners

How does this apply to ABOARD and Fujirebio? The ABOARD consortium is a dementia research partnership comprising no fewer than thirty partners from the dementia field. Various types of collaborations exist within the consortium; one of these is the public-private partnership between Amsterdam UMC and Fujirebio.

At Amsterdam UMC, Dr. Inge Verberk conducts research into biomarkers for the early diagnosis and prediction of dementia progression. Dr. Ann De Vos is Head of Business Development at Fujirebio Europe, a biotech company that develops, scales up, and markets diagnostic tests.

Biomarkers for early dementia diagnosis

Together, ABOARD and Fujirebio aim to identify biomarkers for dementia diagnosis, develop clinical tests based on them, validate these tests, and ultimately bring them to market. Inge Verberk explains: “Biomarkers are proteins or other signaling substances found in the blood or cerebrospinal fluid. They provide insight into what is happening in the brain.” She hopes this will enable the earlier detection of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia with Lewy bodies, and frontotemporal dementia. Verberk: “In our neurochemistry laboratory, we measure a wide range of proteins in the blood. We examine which proteins change in association with specific dementia-causing diseases, at what stage of the disease progression these changes occur, and exactly what they signify.” Verberk develops hypotheses, conducts scientific research, validates biomarkers using patient samples from the biobank, and publishes the results.

Ann De Vos: “Fujirebio’s contribution to the collaboration involves those proteins.” Fujirebio produces materials that isolate the proteins from blood—or sometimes cerebrospinal fluid—to accurately measure their concentrations. “Test prototypes, so to speak,” De Vos explains. “And if a prototype proves clinically valuable, we handle the scaling up, certification, and preparation of the test for clinical use worldwide.”

Apprehension

The podcast addresses various issues that can hinder public-private partnerships (PPPs)—and how to prevent them. Topping the list is the fear that, as a researcher, you might lose your independence by partnering with a commercial entity. Is that fear justified?

“Certainly not in this collaboration,” Verberk states firmly. It turns out that the study design, the interpretation of findings, and publication rights rest entirely with Amsterdam UMC. “That’s how we maintain our research independence. That is what the legal contracts are for: they create the necessary space for independent research.”

Staying alert

Another concern is pressure from a company regarding the study design or publication—or the risk of sharing an idea too early, only to have the company run off with it. Verberk’s account highlights the importance of seeking collaboration early on while remaining vigilant. She often brings PhD candidates along to meetings with companies so they can learn the ropes. “You can sense whether a company is trustworthy during that first conversation,” Verberk notes. And what constitutes a red flag? “If you get the feeling that you, as the researcher, are expected to do exactly what the company says, you need to be careful.”

She mentions that companies sometimes ask detailed questions before any formal collaboration is even in place. “In effect, you are advising commercial parties, and you should be compensated for that—for instance, through a consultancy contract.”

Mutual trust

None of these issues apply to the partnership with Fujirebio, and that is not solely due to solid contracts. This collaboration has a long history. Verberk explains: “It takes time to stabilize a partnership and build the kind of mutual trust you can truly rely on. That is the kind of relationship we have with Fujirebio.” Ann De Vos: “We know that investing in very early-stage research sometimes pays off—though usually, it doesn’t. We are willing to take that risk. The advantage of our long-standing collaboration with ABOARD is that when Inge and her team pitch something to us, we are quicker to take the leap, because we know there is potential there.”

Equitable contracts

Trust also develops when both parties benefit and this is enshrined in a contract, adds Ann De Vos: “It is better to set up something that benefits both parties; otherwise, it can never be sustainable in the long run.” A significant part of her work involves establishing equitable contracts with clear agreements regarding commercialization and royalties.

Royalties for research

The arrangement between ABOARD and Fujirebio grants the company the right to commercialize joint results; royalties from sales flow back to Amsterdam UMC to fund new research.

The collaboration has already yielded several biomarkers that are currently in development or have already been brought to market. Examples include a blood test for Alzheimer’s (phosphorylated tau217), a test for dementia with Lewy bodies, and research into acetylated tau for frontotemporal dementia. The collaboration also resulted in a publication in *Nature Medicine*.

Discretion regarding details

When asked for advice for fellow researchers, Verberk reiterates the importance of building collaborations early on and investing in trust, while also exercising caution. Verberk: “When presenting your research at conferences, be discreet about sharing sensitive details.”

Involve experts

Another tip: “Involve business developers and Principal Investigators in discussions with companies and formalize agreements legally.” This ensures you safeguard both academic independence and fair compensation for commercial activities.