Press release

Macomics Launches Super Triathlon Challenge to Raise Funds for Prof. Jeffrey Pollard Memorial Fund

Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK, 25 October 2023 – Macomics Ltd, a leader in macrophage drug discovery, is delighted to announce that it has launched the Macomics Hyper-Triathlon Challenge, in honour of its co-founder Prof. Jeffrey Pollard, who passed away earlier this year, to raise funds for the newly established Jeff Pollard’s memorial fund.

The new charitable fund, managed by the University of Edinburgh where Prof. Pollard was Director of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, will be used to organise scientific meetings focused on macrophage biology, and to fund travel and enrichment grants aimed at early career researchers.
Macomics was founded on the breakthrough research of Prof. Pollard and Dr. Luca Cassetta, from the University of Edinburgh, to develop cancer therapeutics against novel targets on macrophages.

Dr Luca Cassetta, VP immunology and co-founder of Macomics said, “To celebrate Jeff’s achievements as a world leader in macrophage biology and a mentor, and to commemorate his impact on our company, Macomics team decided to help raise money for the newly established Jeff Pollard’s memorial fund.”
Macomics has two laboratories, one located in Roslin Innovation Centre, near Edinburgh and the other on Cambridge Science Park.

“Although our two sites are separated by 460km in a straight line, we are one team working for the benefits of cancer patients. To prove that this distance is not a barrier, the Macomics Hyper-Triathlon Challenge will consist of 46km of swimming, 460km of running/walking, and 4600km of cycling over the slightly more than 4 months period” explained Cassetta.

As well as linking Macomics’ staff on two sites, the challenge reflects the company’s goal to connect macrophage biology from cancer research to cancer treatments. with cancer: the challenge started on September 24th, which was World Cancer Research Day and finishes on February 4th, which is World Cancer Day.
To donate go to The Jeffrey W Pollard Memorial Fund | The University of Edinburgh, mentioning Macomics in your donation.

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About Macomics – www.macomics.com

Macomics Ltd is an immuno-oncology company with world-leading expertise in macrophage biology, developing precision medicines to modulate macrophages for the treatment of cancer. The company is progressing a diversified portfolio of therapies targeting disease specific tumour associated macrophages (‘TAMs’) towards the clinic. Its ENIGMACTM macrophage drug discovery platform enables identification and validation of novel macrophage therapeutic targets and is based on its deep understanding of macrophage biology.

The company was co-founded in 2020 by the late Prof. Jeffrey Pollard and Dr. Luca Cassetta, University of Edinburgh, internationally recognised leaders in macrophage biology. It has R&D and office facilities in Edinburgh and Cambridge, UK and is backed by Epidarex Capital, Scottish Enterprise, LifeLink Ventures and Caribou Property Limited.

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About The Jeffrey W Pollard Memorial Fund - The Jeffrey W Pollard Memorial Fund | The University of Edinburgh

Professor Jeffrey W Pollard was co-founder of Macomics, the Director of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, and a world-renowned pioneer in the field of tumour-associated macrophage biology. In addition to his invaluable contributions to Science, Jeffrey was very passionate in sharing his knowledge, and helping younger colleagues to succeed in their careers through mentorship and scientific collaborations. To honour and continue his legacy the University of Edinburgh has created the Jeffrey W Pollard Memorial Fund which will be used to organise scientific meetings focused on macrophage biology, and to fund travel and enrichment grants aimed at early career researchers.

To donate online visit https://donate.ed.ac.uk/support/PollardMemorial. To contribute a significant gift and discuss this with the University of Edinburgh philanthropy team please contact Leisa Thomas, Philanthropy Manager Health leisa.thomas@ed.ac.uk