Dynamin drug discovery team win prestigious international epil...( A drug discovery and development col...),Health

A drug discovery and development collaboration between leading Australian Institutions, the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI), University of Newcastle, University of Melbourne and Bio-Link Partners Ltd., has been announced as the Epilepsy Therapy Project, June 2008 New Therapy Grant winners. This prestigious research grant recognises their promising drug discovery program, which is focussed on development and commercialisation of small molecule inhibitors of the GTPase Dynamin, a key component of the synaptic vesicle cycle and a novel approach to treatment of epilepsy.

The two year US$278,800 grant to the Dynamin Drug Discovery Program will support the refinement of lead classes of inhibitors which have demonstrated efficacy in animal models towards clinical development and commercialisation. The Dynamin Drug Discovery Program consists of leading expertise in synaptic vesicle endocytosis and dynamin biology, medicinal chemistry and translational studies in acquired epilepsy models. Award of the New Therapy Grant recognises the potential of dynamin as a new molecular target for the design of a new class of therapeutics to treat epilepsy. In announcing the award, Joyce Cramer, President of the Epilepsy Therapy Project said " The Australian group exemplifies the ideal of collaboration among experts to work on a novel approach to limiting seizure propagation. We are eager to watch their progress toward human studies that will reveal the full potential of this effect on brain signaling".

The Epilepsy Therapy Project seeks to advance the development of new therapies for epilepsy, including new medicines and therapeutic devices. The grants committee consists of leading opinion leaders in the fields of epilepsy clinical practice and anti-epileptic drug (AED) research. The Program attracts applications from leading research groups and biotech companies worldwide. Consistent with the theme of translational research, all grant proposals must
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