First Innosuisse project at the University of Basel
The two scientists receive further support from their research partners Profs. Timm Maier and Michael N. Hall. The Biozentrum provides dedicated laboratory space equipped with basic instruments, and the technology transfer organization Unitectra assists in intellectual property protection.
mTORC1 (mammalian Target of rapamycin complex 1) is a master regulator of cell growth and metabolism. Its dysregulation is implicated in multiple disorders including cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, autoimmunity, and age-related pathologies. However, the clinical application of current mTORC1 inhibitors is limited by a lack of overall effectiveness. This hinders the use of mTORC1 inhibition as a pharmacologic strategy to treat multiple conditions with unmet therapeutic needs. The two researchers aim to generate a drug candidate with a novel mode of mTORC1 inhibition. Such a candidate could be developed into a drug to treat tuberous sclerosis complex, a genetic early-childhood tumor disease, and possibly other mTORC1-related disorders.
“The funding from Innosuisse enables us to translate our basic scientific discoveries into innovative therapeutic strategies for mTORC1-related disorders to improve human health”, explain Imseng and González.
The findings obtained during the Innosuisse-supported project will be the basis for establishing a spin-off to further develop the drug candidate for clinical trials and eventually for the market.
Should you plan to apply for an Innosuisse project and have questions, please, do not hesitate to contact the Grants Office.