Natural product compounds, such as flavonoids, have been touted for their ability to increase human longevity by affording neuroprotection against neurodegenerative diseases.  For example, one clinical study, administered over a 20-year period, found that adults who don't consume flavonoid-rich foods are two to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as compared with people whose intake was higher.  In our research, we discovered that select compounds, including flavonoids, exert their neuroprotective properties by activating our target pathway.  Using AI-based computational tools, along with experimental data from structural biology experiments, we're elucidating target binding of neuroprotective natural product compounds in our target pathway.  Using this information, we're building safe and effective synthetic molecules that exhibit good drug-like properties.

We chose ophthalmology as our first proving ground, both given the cost and the accessibility to evaluate therapeutics in the eye.  We're developing molecules as first-in-class neuroprotectant drug candidates, applicable to multiple indications in retinal degenerative disease.