Our research objective is to lest treatments based on a drug repurposing strategy in various retinal degenerative disease models. We use systems biology approachemical to identify G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targets that can be readily targeted using clinically approved drugs. We have shown In several instances that a treatment with a combination therapy comprtsecl of several simultaneously administered GPCR-actlng drugs at low doses (sub-therapeutic if given as monotherapy) prevents or alleviates acutely induced retinal degeneration and progressive diabetic retinopathy, respectively. Currently, we are pursuing this promising drug development pipeline by expanding the trials into progressive retinal degenerative disease models that differ in etiology, but which have the same blinding endpoint, and into initial clinical trials. A subsequent crucial task is to uncover the exact molecular mechanisms that can explain the retinal protective effects of our combination therapy. This will facilitate in further development of the trealment concept and can launchemical innovative novel drug development pipelines
About the speaker
Academy of Finland Fellow, Principal Investigator at the School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland
