Pre-clinical identification of biomarkers in biofluids for prediction and monitoring progression in different stages of Age-related Macular Degeneration. Application in diagnostic technology tests

• Grant number: 19/22873-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Franco Aparecido Rossato
• Grantee: Franco Aparecido Rossato
• Company: R&R NovaBio Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Ciências Naturais Ltda
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Campinas
• Associated researchers: Mariana Aparecida Brunini Rosales
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/16596-3 - Pre-clinical identification of biomarkers in biofluids for prediction and monitoring progression in different stages of age-related Macular Degeneration: application in diagnostic technology tests, BP.PIPE

Abstract

R&R NovaBio Startup is incubated at Unicamp's Technology Based Companies Program, INCAMP with the purpose of transforming science into solutions that impact socially (quality of life) and economically (Brazil as a producer of technologies). R&R NovaBio Ocular Startup initially focus on research and development innovations for back of the eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in individuals over 55 years old in the world characterized by retinal central visual loss (macula) impacting the ability to perform routine daily activities. The pathogenesis of the disease is associated with risk factors such as aging, smoking, genetics and others. The natural history of AMD can be classified as "dry", retinal pigment epithelium degeneration and lipoprotein deposition (drusen) or "wet", choroidal neovascularization. Worldwide, around 50 million people are affected by AMD, including 11 million in the United States and 3 million in Brazil. Aging-related diseases such as AMD are a major public health challenge as global average life expectancy increases including Brazil. AMD can progress quickly, and it is important to find tools to detect AMD earlier and to develop treatments to slow progression and vision loss. AMD usually is asymptomatic in its early stages and is diagnosed only on routine and complementary eye examination based on visual acuity and fundus images; thus, it often remains undetected until it is more advanced and accompanied by loss of vision. The identification of biomarkers to detect AMD earlier should be performed easily and becomes necessary for agile medical referral to provide specialized medicine care, better prognosis of cases and therapeutic choices. In this scenario, the co-founders of R&R NovaBio Ocular Startup proposed, identified and demonstrated an important component involved in the pathogenesis and progression of AMD in its forms during their Postdoctoral Research at Harvard. In this context, this PIPE phase 1 proposal will be the identification of a biomarker panel in biological fluids associated with the target of interest not yet explored in AMD models at different stages. The execution plan will comprise the following steps: 1 - Induction of AMD models and collection of biological materials; 2 - Sample processing; 3 - Preclinical evaluation, selection and identification of biomarkers at different stages of progression and their morphological comparison. The findings of this project will be used in the next step for design and development prototype kits for the diagnosis of AMD in different stages contributing to better prediction, therapeutic efficacy and prevention of disease progression. (AU)