Drug Development for Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Human Patient iPSCs
Grant Award Details
Grant Type:
Grant Number:
DISC2-11070
Investigator(s):
Disease Focus:
Human Stem Cell Use:
Cell Line Generation:
Award Value:
$1,827,576
Status:
Closed
Progress Reports
Reporting Period:
Year 2 FINAL NCE
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Drug Development for Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Human Patient iPSCs
Public Abstract:
Research Objective
We will use human patient induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models to screen for a drug that activates a transcription factor critical to the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Impact
Our goal is to develop a small molecule to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which currently affects 1/68 children born in the USA. Currently, there is no effective treatment.
Major Proposed Activities
We will use human patient induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-based models to screen for a drug that activates a transcription factor critical to the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Impact
Our goal is to develop a small molecule to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which currently affects 1/68 children born in the USA. Currently, there is no effective treatment.
Major Proposed Activities
- Assay Development for Drug Screening: Generate and characterize "disease-in-a-dish" models using hiPSCs generated from MEF2C Haploinsufficiency Syndrome patients, a form of ASD (month 1 - month 6).
- High-throughput Screening: Screen for hit-to-lead compounds that upregulate MEF2 activity by reporter-gene assay (month 3 - month 9).
- Efficacy Evaluation of Hits: Evaluate candidate therapeutics using ASD patient hiPSC-derived neurons (month 10 - month 18)
- Drug Optimization - 1) Perform additional SAR and optimization, and 2) Perform additional CNS permeability studies and initial PK (month 18 - month 24).
- Develop a Target Product Profile (month 21 - month 24). 1) Using the standard CIRM form, a TPP will be formulated for treatment of the MEF2C Haploinsufficiency Syndrome (MCHS) type of ASD.
- NA
Statement of Benefit to California:
Recent studies show that MEF2C activity not only affects MCHS but also other forms of ASD because MEF2C drives the activity of other ASD-related genes. Thus, while we are developing a treatment for the MCHS form of ASD, in fact MEF2 activator drugs may prove effective for a much large group of ASD patients. ASD is now reported to occur in 1 in every 68 births in both CA and the USA, so the benefit to the ASD community is potentially immense.