The University of Edinburgh

The Tauopathy Challenge Workshop was created to close gaps in understanding and address current research challenges in primary tauopathies, such as Frontotemporal Dementias and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Winners will collectively receive $2 million to fund their neurodegenerative research, spanning from targeting synaptic tau by studying hibernating animals to examining the effects of brain-cholesterol lowering drugs on tau pathology Applications to participate in the 2025 Tauopathy Challenge Workshop are currently being accepted; selected researchers will receive $10,000 for participation FORT WORTH, Texas, July 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF), one of the largest independent funders of primary tauopathy research, enabling field-advancing programs and delivering crucial resources to a diverse set of collaborative researchers, in partnership with CurePSP and Aging Mind Foundation (AMF) announced today $2 million in grants to fund four innovative research projects over the course of two years stemming from the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop. The inaugural Tauopathy Challenge Workshop, held in Chicago, assembled neuroscience researchers from prominent institutions around the globe with the intent of closing gaps in understanding of the mechanisms of tau pathology and addressing challenges in primary tauopathy research, with a focus on Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Frontotemporal Dementias (FTDs). PSP and FTDs are part of a class of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases that may shorten a person's lifespan, and for which no current treatments exist. The four groundbreaking research projects, led by five esteemed scientists, funded through the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop, will serve as building blocks toward ongoing efforts to find treatments and a cure for these diseases, known as primary tauopathies: Kathryn Bowles, PhD, UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh (Awarded $500,000): Research focuses on understanding how build-up of tau affects astrocytes, one of the main cell types in the brain, and the role of astrocytes in the development and progression of PSP. Specifically, Dr. Bowles will investigate how astrocytes behave when they have a build-up of tau, and subsequently, how aggregated tau in astrocytes contributes to making neurons sick. This has not been previously studied. Yongku Cho, PhD, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut, and co-PI Jesse Rinehart, PhD, Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology at the Yale University School of Medicine with a joint appointment in the Systems Biology Institute (Awarded $500,000): Research focuses on studying post-translational modifications (chemical changes of proteins) found in tau protein aggregates of PSP and FTD patients to determine if these post-translational modifications may cause the tau protein to become more aggregation-prone and gain toxicity. This has not been conclusively tested previously. Rik van der Kant, PhD, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam University Medical Center and Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR) at VU University Amsterdam (Awarded $500,000): Research focuses on examining if cholesterol, or other lipids, contribute to the tau pathology in PSP and FTD, knowing that recent studies have shown that excess levels of cholesterol in the brain can drive the build-up of tau. Dr. van der Kant will map how lipid metabolism in different brain cell types is altered in these diseases, and how this might contribute to neuroinflammation. The project will help provide a better understanding of the early processes that drive PSP and FTDs. Patrik Verstreken, PhD, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research (Awarded $500,000): Research focuses on understanding how tau is linked to synaptic loss and finding solutions to counteract this to halt cognitive decline in disease. Some hibernating animals, such as hamsters, experience similar tau-related synapse loss, but this is temporary and reverses when these animals awake from hibernation. Dr. Verstreken plans to investigate the unique process of synapse restoration when hamsters wake from hibernation in an attempt to use this knowledge to combat the tau-induced synaptic decline seen in dementia. "The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, like primary tauopathies, is expected to increase in the coming years, which is why it is so important that we make concerted efforts towards fostering and funding the work of innovative researchers who may lay the scientific foundation for treatments of the future," said Jeremy Smith, President of The Rainwater Charitable Foundation. "We are incredibly grateful to the Aging Mind Foundation and CurePSP for partnering with us to bring the vision of the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop to life and we are thrilled to see how the research of Drs. Bowles, Cho, Rinehart, van der Kant and Verstreken progresses over the coming years." The Tauopathy Challenge Workshop is open to all researchers through a letter of intent process, with applications for the 2025 workshop, focused on co-pathologies, currently being accepted through August 15. The Tauopathy Challenge Workshop convenes interdisciplinary experts around a single topic of focus in tauopathies. Participants are compensated for their time at an off-site meeting where research ideas are incubated, and collaboration is encouraged. Post-workshop, participants can apply for research grants from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation. About The Rainwater Charitable Foundation's Medical Research The Rainwater Charitable Foundation (RCF) was created in the early 1990s by renowned private equity investor and philanthropist Richard E. Rainwater. When Richard was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease and primary tauopathy called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), the RCF expanded its mission to accelerate the development of new diagnostics and treatments for tau-related neurodegenerative disorders. The RCF Medical Research Team supports this focus by managing the Tau Consortium, the Rainwater Prize Program and the Tauopathy Challenge Workshop. With over $140 million invested in medical research to date, the RCF has helped to advance eight treatments into human trials. Currently the RCF supports a range of programs, including a focus on family economic security, medical research and other worthy causes. For more information, please visit rainwatercharitablefoundation.org. About Aging Mind Foundation Since 2013, the Aging Mind Foundation (AMF) has been dedicated to funding medical research aimed at uncovering the causes of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Founded by Laree Hulshoff and Bill Booziotis, who were motivated by personal experiences with friends suffering from Alzheimer's, AMF strives to alleviate the impact of this devastating disease on individuals and their families. By raising funds to provide substantial grants to medical scientists, AMF supports groundbreaking research into Alzheimer's and dementia. The Aging Mind Foundation operates as a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity. For more information, please call 214.218.2050 or visit AgingMindFoundation.org. About CurePSP CurePSP is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to the awareness, care and cure for three neurodegenerative diseases: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). As a catalyst for new treatments and a cure, CurePSP establishes important partnerships and funds critical research internationally. Through its advocacy and support efforts, CurePSP enhances education, care delivery and quality of life for people living with PSP, CBD and MSA and their families. Science, community and hope are at the heart of CurePSP's mission and all its services. CurePSP is a registered 501(c)(3) charity within the United States (EIN: 52-1704978). For more information, please visit . Corporate Contact: Jordan Brainerd The Rainwater Charitable Foundation [email protected] (817) 820-2708 Media Contact: Kerry Sinclair Spectrum Science [email protected] (202) 587-1507 SOURCE The Rainwater Charitable Foundation

TUESDAY, July 9, 2024 -- If it would stave off heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer, would you swear off bacon and burgers? A new international simulation projects cutting Americans' intake of processed meat alone by 30% could head off more than 350,000 cases of diabetes in the United States over 10 years, along with 92,500 cases of heart disease and 53,300 cases of colon cancer. That's about 10 slices of bacon a week -- a little more than one strip a day at breakfast. If Americans slashed consumption of red meat by 30% at the same time, the combined health benefit would be even bigger, according to the new study from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- nearly 1.1 million fewer cases of diabetes, 382,400 fewer cases of heart disease and 84,400 fewer cases of colon cancer. "Cutting consumption of meat has been recommended by national and international organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the Climate Change Committee here in the UK and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC," said co-author Lindsay Jaacks , head of global health and nutrition at the University of Edinburgh. "Our research finds that these changes in diets could also have significant health benefits in the U.S., and so this is a clear win-win for people and planet," she added in a Edinburgh news release. A 30% reduction in intake of red meat alone -- roughly one quarter-pounder a week -- could prevent more than 732,000 cases of diabetes, 291,500 cases of heart disease and 32,200 cases of colon cancer, the study estimated. Statistically speaking, who stands to benefit most? White men and those earning $25,000 to $55,000 a year, researchers found. For the study, they used data from a U.S. government health survey to simulate the health impacts of reduced meat consumption. They described their microsimulation as the first to estimate the effects of reducing this consumption on multiple health outcomes in the United States. The study calculated the impact of reductions ranging from 5% to 100%. Researchers noted that other studies have linked high levels of processed meats in the diet to chronic disease, but few have examined the effect on multiple health outcomes. Researchers said their finding that more disease would be prevented by reducing red meat than by cutting back on processed meat has an easy explanation. Americans eat more red meat -- 47 grams a day (1.66 ounces) -- versus 29 grams (1.02 ounces) a day of processed meat. The authors noted that their estimates should be interpreted with caution since less is known about how unprocessed red meat affects chronic disease risk. More study is needed, they said. The findings were published July 3 in The Lancet Planetary Health journal. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

EMERALD Study will investigate safety and efficacy of engineered macrophage cell therapy in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis LONDON and EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resolution Therapeutics Limited ("Resolution"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing macrophage cell therapies to treat end-stage liver disease today announces it has received approval from the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to commence a Phase I/II EMERALD study for its lead candidate RTX001. EMERALD is an open-label, Phase I/II study which will investigate the safety and efficacy of engineered macrophage cell therapy, RTX001, in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The primary analysis will focus on safety and major clinical events including death. The study will also evaluate biomarkers such as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score which is used to assess disease severity and prioritise patients for a transplant. The EMERALD study will initiate in Q3 2024. Dr Clifford Brass, Chief Medical Officer of Resolution Therapeutics, commented: "We are excited to have received approval from the MHRA to begin working on our Phase I/II EMERALD study for our lead candidate RTX001. This marks a significant milestone in our program and underlines the therapeutic potential of engineered macrophage cell therapy for end-stage liver disease." Dr Amir Hefni, Chief Executive Officer of Resolution Therapeutics, said: "Today's approval from the MHRA is a testament to our outstanding scientific and clinical teams. This takes us one step closer to bringing our mission, to transform outcomes for patients suffering with inflammatory organ diseases through macrophage cell therapy, to the clinic." The U.K. MHRA approval comes at an exciting time in the company's journey, following the presentation of key proof of concept data by the University of Edinburgh at the EASL Congress 2024. The data from the extended MATCH Phase II study demonstrated clinical proof of concept for non-engineered macrophage cell therapy as an effective and durable treatment for advanced liver cirrhosis. Resolution also presented its proprietary macrophage cell therapy platform, demonstrating the engineering and cryopreservation of autologous macrophages with a pro-regenerative phenotype for the treatment of end stage liver disease (ESLD). Resolution is hosting an R&D Webinar on Friday 28th June 2024 at 12.30 BST / 07.30 EDT with world leading hepatologist, Arun Sanyal, M.D., Director of the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, Virginia Commonwealth University. Please use the following link to register. A replay will be available on the News page of the Resolution Website following the event's completion. Notes for Editors: About Resolution Therapeutics Resolution Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering macrophage cell therapy for transformative outcomes in inflammatory organ diseases. The Company leverages its proprietary platform to engineer autologous macrophages with distinct pro-regenerative properties as cell therapy medicines capable of delivering superior patient outcomes across the spectrum of inflammatory organ disease. Resolution's initial focus is on developing RTX001, its lead product candidate with first-in-class potential supported by preclinical data demonstrating anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory advantages relative to non-engineered macrophages, for patients diagnosed with end-stage liver disease. The Company is also advancing efforts to expand the potential of its platform beyond the liver into indications where engineered macrophages have therapeutic potential. Resolution Therapeutics is based in Edinburgh and London. Learn more by visiting and engage with us on LinkedIn. About RTX001 RTX001 is an engineered autologous macrophage cell therapy designed to deliver increased anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in patients with end-stage liver disease. The product candidate is engineered using a unique combination of therapeutic genes known to be expressed in macrophages to enhance the inherent regenerative properties of the modality for superior efficacy and durability. The clinical development program for RTX001 currently consists of two clinical studies. The ongoing OPAL study is a multi-center natural history study in patients with liver cirrhosis who have been hospitalised for the first time with hepatic decompensation. The objective of the OPAL study is to generate novel data on disease trajectory to optimise the control arm for the planned EMERALD study. The planned Phase I/II EMERALD study is an open-label first-in-human study of RTX001 measuring clinical events as the primary efficacy endpoint. The EMERALD study is expected to initiate as early as the third quarter of 2024. SOURCE Resolution Therapeutics