Icon Genetics AG announced that "Bayerische Forschungsstiftung", Bavarian Research Foundation, will fund a three year-long research collaboration between Icon Genetics, Research Centre Freising, and the University of Munich (Faculty of Biology, Prof. Hans-Ulrich Koop).

The aim of the joint project is to develop switches for controlling expression of transgenes in plant chloroplasts. The method of chloroplast transformation will be applied for the generation of the transgenic plants. This technology largely prevents the undesired spread of foreign genetic information through pollen flow.

Prof. Hans-Ulrich Koop: "With the development of gene switches we add yet another layer of safety to the method of chloroplast transformation, which per se possesses an excellent inherent safety characteristic. The switches can act as additional safety measurements when producing pharmaceuticals in plants: the proteins encoded by the introduced genes will not be produced until turned on."

"Moreover, gene switches enable production even of those molecules that would otherwise interfere with normal growth or fully inhibit plant development. As the production of recombinant proteins is not turned on before the end of the growth period, the plants can reach their full size and biomass without any negative interference," adds Christian Eibl, PhD, Manager at Icon Genetics, Research Centre Freising.

About University of Munich, Department I, Botany:
The team of Prof. Hans-Ulrich Koop works on novel processes and approaches for chloroplast transformation of higher plants. The group is among the worldwide leading research laboratories involved in this promising field. Hans-Ulrich Koop is also a co-founder of Icon Genetics and Scientific Director of the Research Centre Freising.

About Bavarian Research Foundation (Bayerische Forschungsstiftung):
The Bavarian Research Foundation was founded by the State of Bavarian. The objective was to support academic and non-academic research projects, which are of significance for the scientific, technological and economical development of Bavaria. For this purpose the Bavarian Research Foundation has about 20 million € per year at its disposal. Each project funded by the Bavarian Research Foundation must be carried out jointly by academia and industry. The projects are required to show both a high level of innovation and future economic potential. During its existence the Bavarian Research Foundation has provided more than 340 million € for around 360 projects, with a total project volume of more than 750 million €.