Neuroscience

#1

Neuro-physiological biotype and omics analysis in psychiatry disorders

In psychiatry disorder, clinical researches for patient segmentation based on neuro-physiological (NP) biotype that combine genome, multiple intermediate phenotype and symptoms have been accelerated. Understanding molecular alteration is important to identify drug targets as well. Therefore, association studies of NP biotype and omics are sought to identify novel drug targets in subpopulation segmented by specific NP biotype. Here, we would like to recruit proposals of omics analysis using clinical samples linked to NP biotype in psychiatry disorders. We would like to provide platform as well, if necessary.

#2

Proposals and target validation study of novel drug targets for incurable psychiatric disorders that have problematic psychiatric symptoms (especially depressive and anxiety symptoms)

Prioritized proposals:

• Focused research on  incurable psychiatry disorders.
• Proposal of highly disease-related target based on analysis of clinical samples or human data sets.
• Validation study plan with high predictability of clinical efficacies such as utilization of patient-derived cells and IPSCs, or creation of animal model that is extrapolative to human.

Notes:

• Do not include replication study of previously reported targets.
• No constraint on modality (small molecule, nucleic acid, antibody, etc).
  
  

#3

Proposals and validation study of novel therapeutic approaches for rare/intractable diseases associated with neurodegeneration

New target proposal of innovative modalities (e.g. small molecule, nucleic acid, antibody) for signature features including abnormal RNA/DNA structures, RNA splicing and protein production observed widely in rare/intractable neurological diseases.

Prioritized proposals:

• A proposal of novel drug target and its validation study plan which is originally established by NGS-data analysis of clinical samples or public human data sets.
• Feasibility validation plan which includes utilization of translatable preclinical models (e.g. patient iPSCs) and translatable readouts related with disease prevention/therapy, with high predictability of clinical efficacies.

Areas of interest:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) and related triplet diseases

#4

Research on multiple system atrophy: generation and validation of novel phenotypic screening methods, molecular targets, or cellular/animal models.

Breakthrough research on the treatment of multiple system atrophy (MSA) based on its disease mechanism, pathology, clinical observations, or analysis of clinical samples.

Prioritized proposals:

• Development of a phenotypic screening system applicable to high-throughput screening.
• Proposal of a novel therapeutic target and its validation.
• Development and validation of MSA-relevant cellular or animal models with enhanced clinical translatability (e.g. patient-derived iPSCs).
  
  

#5

Informatics/ artificial intelligence-based proposals and target validation study of novel drug targets for neuropsychiatric disorders

Research proposal of validation studies for novel drug targets identified by in silico analysis of public and/or original clinical data and analysis data of clinical samples in our focused diseases (psychiatric disorders: treatment resistant depression; cognitive impairment and negative symptom of schizophrenia, neurodegenerative disorders: disease modifiers for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Notes:

• Assay system for validation should be translatable to clinical effects such as one utilizing human cells including normal or patient iPSCs with translatable readouts relevant to disease prevention and treatment.
• Omics analysis just for animal models including gene modified animals is out of interest.
  
  

#6

Novel drug target identification for neuropsychiatric disorders by focusing on the alternative splicing regulation

RNA processing mechanism, mainly alternative splicing control, has recently attracted attention as a novel therapeutic mechanism of action. By controlling it, it is expected that new therapeutic methods could be provided by suppression of pathogenic variant gene expression or restoration of normal functional gene expression. Therefore, we would seek broad research ideas, such as identification methods for splicing regulatory factors as drug targets, those for pathological aberrant spliced genes utilizing large-scale genome analysis, and innovative drug screening methods for pathogenic splicing abnormality.

#7

Regulatory immune cell-focused research applicable to the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders or rare diseases (not limited to rare neurological diseases)

We wish to recruit ideas on immunosuppressive mechanisms such as Treg cells for the treatment of diseases such as central nervous system diseases (neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders), or rare diseases driven by immune abnormalities.

Areas of interest:

• Cell therapy using regulatory immune cells
• Research on stability and plasticity of regulatory immune cells
• Research on selective amplification or functional regulation of regulatory immune cells
• Research on disease related molecule-specific or lesion-specific targeting of regulatory immune cells
• Research on induction of antigen-specific immune tolerance

Areas of no interest:

• Research on multiple sclerosis (relapsing-remitting type), acute stroke, migraine, pain, where application outside these diseases is challenging
  
  

#8

Drug discovery for neuropsychiatric disorders aiming at control of central or peripheral immunity / inflammation

We wish to recruit ideas on (1) elucidation of the mechanism that causes inflammatory / immune system abnormalities involved in the pathogenesis of central nervous system diseases (neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders), (2) therapeutic research aimed at controlling such abnormalities.

Areas of interest:

• Research using patient sample (including iPS cell-derived sample)
• Research using clinically relevant animal models and in vitro cell culture models (microglia, astrocytes, co-culture of them with neurons, etc.)
• Research on disease relevant genes, molecules or pathways
• Research aiming for immune cell therapy

Areas of no interest:

• Research on multiple sclerosis (relapsing-remitting type), acute stroke, migraine, pain
  
  

Other Areas of Interest

How to Apply

Follow the procedure below to make an application.

1. Download the Proposal Sheet below, and complete  based on the non-confidential information.
   
   
2. Click "SUBMIT". To proceed with the application you must agree with the Terms and Conditions that are presented to you. Once you have agreed with them, click “I ACCEPT”.
   
   
3. Complete the Application Form with your Proposal Sheet prepared at Step1 attached, and click "SUBMIT".
   
   
4. After submission, your website will show the “Submission Completed” page and you will receive a confirmation email.　　
   
   

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