The collaboration is designed to combine the preclinical biology skills and clinical expertise resident at Columbia and Bologna, with translational and drug development competencies of Edison, with the intention of bringing forward new therapeutic candidates to treat these diseases.
Redox encrypted pharmacophores identified from Edison’s chemistry efforts will be evaluated in unique systems-biology screens established at Columbia and Bologna. It is hoped that the collaboration will identify new classes of compounds addressing respiratory chain defects associated with inherited mitochondrial diseases, as well as molecular targets and clinical biomarkers.
“There is a growing awareness of the role of mitochondria in disease. In addition to being central in inherited mitochondrial defects, there is substantial evidence linking mitochondrial dysfunction with Parkinson’s Disease, brain injury and diabetes,” said Dr Eric Schon, professor of neurology, Columbia University Medical Center. “This body of research is intended to translate basic biochemical insights into important therapeutic developments relevant not only for inherited mitochondrial diseases, but also for other conditions that share a common mechanism.”
Complementing work performed at Columbia University Medical Center, investigations conducted at the University of Bologna will more narrowly focus on applications in inherited mitochondrial diseases affecting the eye.