The seminar will focus on therapeutic strategies for retinal degenerative diseases in which delayed clearance of retinaldehydes plays an important role. Marcin Golczak, PhD will present retinol-binding protein 1, or RBP1, as a potential target for regulating intracellular vitamin A metabolism.
The lecture will move from the scientific rationale and genetic proof-of-concept to the discovery and biochemical characterization of small-molecule RBP1 inhibitors. It will also cover ligand-binding mechanisms, structure–activity relationships, in vivo validation and structure-based approaches for developing early-stage inhibitors into lead drug candidates.
About the speaker
Marcin Golczak, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University. His research examines the biochemical mechanisms of vision, lipid metabolism in the eye and new therapeutic approaches for ocular disease.
He received his M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Wroclaw University of Technology and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences. His postdoctoral training at the University of Washington and Case Western Reserve University focused on the biochemistry and molecular biology of vision.
His work has contributed to the understanding of enzymes involved in visual chromophore regeneration and to the discovery of prototypical inhibitors of retinoid isomerase, including emixustat. His current research also includes small-molecule antagonists of cellular-retinol binding proteins and studies of ocular lipid metabolism, including mechanisms relevant to evaporative dry eye disease.
Marcin Golczak, PhD is the author of more than 120 publications and patents and serves as PI or co-PI on several NIH-funded projects.
