Oak Crest Institute of Science

MONROVIA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oak Crest Institute of Science (Oak Crest) proudly participated in the 2024 MATRIX Investigators Meeting last month in Nairobi, Kenya, where global leaders in HIV prevention gathered under the theme "Building Bridges to the Future." Continue Reading The OneRing - a dual-purpose device for delivery of a non-antiretroviral agent and a non-hormonal contraceptive to protect against HIV infection and unplanned pregnancy Dr. Mhlana and Dr. Sonti standing with their mentors at the 2024 MATRIX Investigators Meeting in Nairobi, August 2024. Hosted by MATRIX, a five-year program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), that meeting was a nexus for advancing innovative HIV prevention products, particularly for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. It created a dynamic platform for funders, researchers, and stakeholders to collaborate on developing safe, effective, and affordable solutions that can be scaled and delivered where needed most. Four Oak Crest researchers participated in the meeting and provided updates on the OneRing—a dual-purpose product containing a non-antiretroviral agent and a non-hormonal contraceptive for the prevention of both HIV and unplanned pregnancy, being developed under MATRIX. "We were excited to showcase the OneRing and its potential to address two critical needs simultaneously—HIV prevention and prevention of unintended pregnancies—with the use of totally novel agents," said Dr. Marc Baum, Senior Faculty at Oak Crest, and Principal Investigator of the OneRing project. "This innovative intravaginal ring has the potential to transform HIV prevention efforts, especially for young women in sub-Saharan Africa, by providing a practical solution to urgent health needs." Though not related, a standout moment was the presentation by Drs. Thembela Sonti and Kanyisile Mhlana, post-doctoral fellows from the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, who had spent four months in Southern California working with Oak Crest scientists to develop novel flow chemistry methods for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used in anti-HIV products. They are now installing a flow reactor at UCT to enable this work to continue, with the goal being the capacity for API manufacturing to take place in Africa. Development of the spin synthesis process for technology transfer and cost-effective manufacturing of APIs in Africa is the aim of an Independent Special Project funded by USAID through MATRIX, which is being led by Prof. Kelly Chibale, founder and director of H3D, and being conducted as a partnership involving H3D, CPT Pharma in South Africa, KinetiChem based in Los Angeles, and Oak Crest. Drs. Sonti and Mhlana were recognized for their pivotal roles in building the link between South Africa and California with the special "Building Bridges to the Future" award they received at the close of the investigators meeting. MATRIX unites organizations and researchers from the United States, Kenya, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, all committed to providing women, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, with a diverse array of HIV prevention options. Founded in 1988, the Oak Crest Institute is a non-profit innovative chemistry and biology research and education center that as part of its mission is focused on cultivating the next generation of scientists by allowing students at all levels the opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the conduct of laboratory research. Oak Crest remains dedicated to MATRIX and its global partners. Media Contact: Paul WEBSTER 6268170883 [email protected] SOURCE Oak Crest Institute of Science WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

MONROVIA, Calif., April 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Oak Crest Institute of Science have been exploring new ways to prevent the spread of HIV-1 among adolescent girls and young women in low and middle income countries, who are disproportionately affected by HIV-1. One promising approach involves delivering antiviral compounds vaginally, using inserts, gels, films, or intravaginal rings. This method is appealing because it is women-controlled and topical, potentially reducing systemic exposure to the agents. However, a fundamental question remains: how many drugs are needed for an effective product, and are three drugs better than two? Some of these questions have been answered in a new study, and the answers may be surprising. In a recent study using humanized mice (mice that have received implants of human cells and tissues so that they can be infected with HIV-1), researchers tested the vaginal HIV-1 prevention efficacy of single and combination antiviral compounds applied locally. They used a mathematical model to empirically study the effects of administering different doses of antiviral drugs. The results were unexpected: when tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) – both drugs that share the same mechanism of inhibiting HIV-1 reverse transcriptase thereby preventing viral replication in immune cells – were combined with a third drug that used a different mode of action against HIV-1, a strong antagonistic effect was observed. This means that the drugs were less effective when used together than they were when used separately. The TDF-FTC combination is FDA-approved as an oral regimen to prevent the acquisition of HIV-1. The researchers were able to remedy the antagonistic effect by omitting TDF from the drug regimen. The management of HIV-1 in infected individuals using antiretroviral therapy relies on two or more drugs administered together to suppress the virus. It was hypothesized by many in the field that a similar paradigm would apply to HIV-1 prevention in healthy individuals. The results of this new study suggest that the approaches used in treatment may not be directly transferrable to HIV-1 prevention, especially in topical (i.e., vaginal) dosing. This study provides a translational template for the preclinical evaluation of drug combinations for the prevention of HIV-1 and other viral diseases. Mice and humans have different physiology and microenvironments in their vaginal tissues, and those differences may limit the translational potential of these study results in humans. It is an important step forward in the development of safe, effective, and discreet HIV prevention products that can be controlled by women. The senior author on the report, Dr. Marc Baum at Oak Crest Institute of Science admits that the findings are "..going to be a bit controversial. The interaction between drugs that are effective when used alone but may interfere with each other when combined highlights the complexity of predicting the effects of drug use in HIV prevention. This serves as a reminder that more is not always better." Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, under Award Number U19AI113048. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Reference to paper Humanized Mice A humanized mouse is a type of laboratory mouse that has been genetically modified so that it has certain human characteristics. For this study, the mice were implanted with human immune cells and tissues so that they could be infected with HIV-1 Humanized mice are a powerful tool in biomedical research, helping scientists to better understand human biology and develop new treatments for diseases. About Oak Crest Institute of Science Founded in 1998, and celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, Oak Crest Institute of Science is a multi-disciplinary 501(c)(3) non-profit independent research organization located in Monrovia, California. The institute's mission is to promote scientific research and education in the field of biomedical science through advanced research, education, and community outreach programs. Oak Crest Institute of Science focuses on the discovery and development of novel drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tools to address various global health challenges. The organization conducts research in areas such as infectious diseases, cancer, and neuroscience, and collaborates with other academic and research institutions, as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Oak Crest Institute of Science also offers training and education programs for students and professionals in the field of biomedical science, including undergraduate and graduate-level research internships and fellowships. Additionally, the organization is committed to community outreach and partners with local schools to provide educational opportunities for underserved students. Contact: Paul Webster 626-817-0883 356557@email4pr.com

Oak Crest Institute of Science, a Southern California Non-profit, Publishes Significant New COVID-19 Vaccination Research – 'Clinical SARS-CoV-2 Kinetic Profiles are Dependent on the Viral Strain and Host Vaccination Status' MONROVIA, Calif., Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oak Crest Institute of Science announced the publication of results from a new research project in Microbiology Spectrum (DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04469-22). The study followed two vaccinated participants – a male and female – who developed COVID-19 independently between December 27, 2021, and January 3, 2022, the only participants to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 over this period. Using state-of-the-art molecular techniques to analyzed nasal swab samples collected at high frequency longitudinally, researchers sought to explore whether full vaccination affected early COVID-19 replication rates and/or viral loads through the various stages of infection. Continue Reading Samples were collected in the open air PCR testing " Our ultimate conclusion in this study centers on three important points," said researcher, Manjula Gunawardana, M.P.H. "The SARS-CoV-2 virus doubling times were similar for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals infected with an earlier SARS-CoV-2 strain. Vaccinated individuals have a shorter clearance phase than the unvaccinated subjects in an earlier study. The continuous sampling protocols detected a virus mutation in one of the participants during the time they tested positive." "Oak Crest already has a distinguished history of research on viruses," said Paul Webster, Ph.D., and Senior Faculty at Oak Crest. including HIV prevention strategies. "We work on devices for sustained delivery of anti-HIV drugs, and the formulation of new drug candidates for the delivery, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases. Our team has successfully transferred biomedical research from the bench to early-stage clinical trials, often first-in-human – which is a significant accomplishment for a small academic team. Our HIV clinical trials involve antiviral intravaginal rings and a subdermal implant, currently being evaluated in South Africa in a first-ever human Phase I/II clinical trial." Gunawardana et al. Clinical SARS-CoV-2 Kinetic Profiles Are Dependent on the Viral Strain and Host Vaccination Status. Microbiol Spectr. 2022 Dec 1:e0446922. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04469-22. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36453916. For the latest Oak Crest biomedical research, student/teacher programs, and other events, follow Oak Crest on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube. About Oak Crest Institute of Science Founded in 1998, Oak Crest Institute of Science is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization established to conduct innovative research in biology, chemistry, and environmental science while providing an educational platform for teachers and students. Taking an experiential role as educators, Oak Crest gives teachers and students a chance to work on funded, authentic research projects, helping all involved to develop a sense of achievement while also fostering inclusion with the entire STEM community. Learn more at: . Media Contact: Paul Webster, PhD 1 (626) 817-0883 [email protected] SOURCE Oak Crest Institute of Science