The University of Eastern Finland opened this spring an internal call for Proof-of-Concept (PoC) funding to accelerate the commercialization of ideas emerging from research.
The funding intends for the creation of clearly defined and tested business ideas that has business potential and that can be utilised later on in the establishment of start-up companies, in licensing for an existing company, or in applications for Business Finland funding (Research to Business funding).
Following Proof of Concept ideas were granted funding:
Kristiina Huttunen: Design and Synthesis of Novel Drugs for Alzheimer’s Diseases, School of Pharmacy
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, leading in loss of memory and thinking competence. Tarja Malm’s research group has found a novel patentable drug target to treat neurodegenerative diseases and the data obtained so far look promising. The aim of this project is to develop new patentable lead-molecules with effective properties against the identified target. New molecules with improved drug-like properties will be designed with the aid of molecular modelling in Prof. Antti Poso’s group and synthesized in the applicant’s (Docent Kristiina Huttunen) research groups. These new molecules will be tested in established biological models in Prof. Malm’s research group.
Kai Kaarniranta: Novel energy metabolism regulators in the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration, School of Medicine (Institute of Clinical Medicine)
AMD is the most common cause of visual impairment in the Western world. AMD is a storage disease in which harmful protein accumulations develop behind the retina. For the first time ever, our recent study showed that AMD is associated with impaired autophagy, which is an important clean-up mechanism of the fundus of the eye. The study can be regarded as a breakthrough, as the results change our understanding of the pathogenesis of AMD and also open new avenues for the treatment of AMD. In this project, we try to find novel energy metabolism regulatory treatments to AMD. The research project is done in University of Eastern Finland in ophthalmology group led by Professor Kai Kaarniranta.