Boehringer Ingelheim, BioMed X Form Eye Health Research Team

BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim have launched a new research team at XSeed Labs, the established innovation incubator embedded within Boehringer’s U.S. R&D headquarters in Ridgefield, Connecticut, which aims to develop an innovative human organotypic in vitro platform technology for the development and validation of next-generation intraocular biologics.

The newly established research team, Team NIB (New Platform for Next-Generation Intraocular Biologics), will be led by BioMed X boot camp winner Dr. Deniz Ugurlu Cimen, a molecular and cell biologist specializing in stem cell-based disease modeling. As Group Leader, she will guide an interdisciplinary team spanning stem cell biology, biomaterials, and micro-physiological systems.

“Progress in intraocular therapeutics depends on models that can meaningfully test and challenge new drug designs,” said Dr. Cimen. “We are building a human in vitro eye model that captures essential physiological features to improve the predictive power of therapeutic discovery, supported by an interdisciplinary approach across biology and engineering.”

This initiative builds on Boehringer’s growing focus in eye health, where the company is pursuing innovative approaches to address vision-threatening diseases and exploring next-generation biologics to help preserve and improve sight.

“By building more predictive human-based models, the collaboration aims to enhance translational success and help bring innovative therapies to patients faster,” said Remko Bakker, Global Head of Eye Health and Research Beyond Borders at Boehringer Ingelheim.

Mark Johnston, CEO of BioMed X USA, said, “This extended collaboration is proof that installing our BioMed X model within the campus of a major pharmaceutical company can indeed add value to their internal R&D.”