Industry engagement
The IEU has deep expertise in the development and application of novel causal methods to understanding health issues. Our core strength is in developing and applying statistical methods, and the triangulation of evidence to better identify the causes of health outcomes, particularly where randomised controlled trial evidence is impossible or very difficult to obtain. Our approach enables rapid, confident target validation, reducing late-stage failures, and directs investment toward interventions most likely to succeed.
Our distinctive advantage:
Informing drug-target prioritisation - to accelerate drug repurposing and shape healthcare policy.
Access to massive datasets and use advanced techniques - to interrogate sociodemographic, clinical, genetic, and molecular data.
World-class expertise - our Unit brings together over 150 experts in population genetics, data science, and translational epidemiology, creating a uniquely powerful environment for generating robust insights that can move from discovery toward clinical application.
Our unique capability: Translating data into actionable insights
By combining advanced analytical approaches with unparalleled data assets, we help partners distinguish genuine biological drivers from mere correlation.
🧬 Mendelian Randomisation & Triangulation: Establish clear causation using natural genetic variations to deprioritise weak targets early and avoid costly late-stage failures.
💾 Open GWAS Database: Access our massive database of 450 billion data points, enabling rapid, low-cost target validation that cuts discovery timelines by years.
🔗 Multi-Omics Integration: Pinpoint targets with the greatest likelihood of clinical success by linking genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic signals.
🤝 Consultancy & Training: Gain dedicated scientific guidance from target identification through to trial design, alongside bespoke training to build in-house ‘omic capabilities.
See short, two minutes videos on Mendelian Randomization and Drug Target Prioritisation.
Partner with us: Turning discovery into clinical impact
We are seeking strategic partners to translate our findings from biological mechanisms to real-world patient benefit:
Co-develop new drugs for novel targets and repurpose existing drugs; de-risk drug trials with robust causal evidence.
Advance biomarker-based tests that enable true precision medical treatments.
Co-design patient stratification tools and clinical pathways tailored for targeted treatments, reducing prescription of ineffective drugs.
Back translational research that offers a clear, accelerated route to societal and economic impact.
The repurposing advantage:
Targeting well-validated biological mechanisms with existing drugs creates a win-win for healthcare:
Precision medicine:
Treatments matched to biological signatures, moving beyond trial-and-error prescribing.
Accelerated hope:
People with treatment-resistant conditions could benefit from existing medicines, reaching trials and clinical practice in 3-5 years.
Prevention:
Early treatment of health conditions may protect against irreversible brain changes.
De-risked development:
Targets are validated by robust causal inference, rather than mere correlation.
Faster timelines:
Shortened development from the standard 15 years down to just 5 years through repurposing.
Massive cost savings:
Potential savings of £50–100M+ by avoiding unsuccessful, late-stage clinical trials.
Our partners:
MRC IEU data contributed to the identification of disease-relevant networks in LEO Pharma Systems Biology pipeline, generating insights about disease-causal genes and pathways. Largely due to the work of Prof Paternoster and colleagues, atopic dermatitis became the model case for developing these methods, which now serves other indications at LEO Pharma. The data are a valued resource in the evaluation phase of any new drug targets and have increased both data reliability and utility for systems biology applications”. Dr Peter Scheipers, Principal Scientist, Discovery Sciences, Leo Pharma