Bayer and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) have entered a five-year strategic collaboration aimed at advancing new therapies from early target identification through Investigational New Drug (IND) application, with an initial focus on cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
The agreement spans multiple indications within Bayer’s current research scope, but the companies said the first emphasis will be on areas with significant unmet need in cardiology and renal disease. Bayer will contribute its drug discovery and translational science capabilities, while VUMC will provide preclinical and clinical expertise alongside access to large-scale research datasets.
Central to the collaboration is VUMC’s resource platform, including data housed in Vanderbilt’s BioVU collection of DNA and plasma. The parties said they plan to use these real-world and genetic data resources to generate data-driven insights that can help accelerate discovery and development timelines, supporting precision-medicine approaches and sharpening decisions on targets and pathways.
Bayer framed the partnership as a way to strengthen its pharmaceutical development portfolio by combining cutting-edge science with real-world data. The company said it is pursuing new treatment approaches that reflect the tight biological link between heart and kidney health and disease, positioning its cardiovascular strategy around “precision cardiology” and a pipeline that includes compounds across preclinical and clinical stages.
VUMC, headquartered in Nashville, described the collaboration as aligned with its mission to translate research into new treatments. The academic health system employs roughly 43,000 people, including 4,930 clinicians, and reported more than 3.5 million patient visits last year across seven hospitals and more than 180 clinic locations. VUMC also said Vanderbilt University School of Medicine ranks among the top 10 U.S. institutions for NIH research funding and that, in 2025, VUMC contributed $22.13 billion to the regional economy while providing more than $1 billion in community benefit and investment.
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“This collaboration exemplifies our shared vision to harness cutting-edge science and real-world data to bring innovative treatments to patients faster. Collaborating with VUMC underscores our commitment to advancing precision medicine and fostering partnerships that integrate world-class research capabilities with industry-leading development expertise.”
Juergen Eckhardt, M.D., Head of Business Development and Licensing, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
“VUMC has many internationally recognized research faculty along with deep and unique data resources that enable pharmaceutical discovery and development. We are delighted to enter this new and important collaboration with Bayer. We will complement Bayer’s expertise to fulfill our mission to convert research into impactful new treatments for patients.”
Ken Holroyd, M.D., Brock Family Directorship for Applied Innovation and Vice President for Tech Transfer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
