Award Data

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The cysteine protease caspase-6 (Casp6) has been associated with neurodegenerative diseases for over fifteen years. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Casp6 is colocalized with amyloid plaques and tau tangles in human brain, and both human and animal model data indicate that activated Casp6 contributes to neuronal inflammation, neurodegeneration, and cleavage of proteins to to ...

This project will achieve a computerized system that supplies digital content, both lexical and graphical, suitable for children, students and working adults of the Visually Impaired (VId) community, to increase their autonomy and potentiate their Quality of Life and societal contribution. While there is notable academic research, such as a high-density pin display tablet, there is no commercial, ...

PROJECT SUMMARYThe ocular surface (OcS) comprises the stratified squamous epithelia of the cornea/conjunctiva, its adnexa, and the overlying tear film. OcS disease disrupts the normal developmental progression, maturation, and turnover of OcS epithelia, causing “epitheliopathy” characterized by cell damage, barrier disruption and programmed cell death. OcS disease initiated by tear dysfunction ...

Retinal degeneration involving progressive deterioration and loss of function of photoreceptors is a major cause of permanent vision loss worldwide. Strategies to treat these incurable conditions incorporate retinal prostheses via electrically stimulating surviving retinal neurons with implanted devices in the eye, optogenetic therapy, and sonogenetic therapy. Existing challenges of these strategi ...

The cornea is one of the most important tissues in the eye and its transparency is critical for good visual function in humans. Corneal tissue injuries are the most common, everyday issue for practicing ophthalmologists and can run the gamut in severity. Healing of large corneal wounds, such as alkali burns, involves extended migration of epithelial cells as well as reinnervation of the cornea. Ho ...

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Positron-emission tomography (PET) studies play a critical role in many areas of neurological health by enabling quantitative in vivo measurements of specific neuroreceptor systems (e.g. receptor density, drug occupancy, endogenous ligand occupancy) to (i) evaluate fundamental hypotheses about disease or (ii) aid in the development of novel treatments targeting those rec ...

Project SummaryMore than 16 million Americans have been diagnosed with Dry Eye Disease (DED). This number is growing due to aggravating factors like increased screen time, and an aging population. It already has an estimated impact of $6.58 billion on the US healthcare system and $70 billion overall economic impact due to decrease in productivity. Two contributing factors to this burden are the pr ...

Abstract In the United States alone, more than three million peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are placed each year to provide IV therapies, where in about half of cases navigation through the venous system is typically performed blind, or without navigation guidance. Improper PICC placement is relatively common, is costly, and has serious complications for critically-ill patients. U ...

Project summary/abstractGlaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible vision loss in Americans. Effective treatment requires the patient to take visual field tests over time, to monitor for progression of visual field loss. In many patients there is no progression, but when it occurs it must be detected as quickly as possible in order to save vision by using a more aggressive treatment. Pat ...

ABSTRACT Delix Therapeutics is developing psychoplastogens, compounds that promote rapid and sustained neuroplasticity. This new class of compounds was identified by Delix founder, Professor David Olson (UC Davis). DLX-007 is a novel, potent psychoplastogen designed and inspired by known psychoplastogens Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. Similar to these clinically effective compounds, DLX-007 promotes stru ...