Grant: Project Grant

We're working on a new gene therapy that could help restore lost brain function due to neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal is to make key progress in developing this therapy by reaching important research and product milestones. We plan to expand our intellectual property (IP), strengthen our regulatory approach, and make sure we're ready to attract investment and partnerships for clinical development. At the same time, we'll create a new spin-off company to drive the commercialization of this technology, ensuring it benefits both the health and economy of Canadians. Our gene therapy platform, developed at Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto, targets a wide range of brain diseases. It works by reprogramming certain brain cells (called astrocytes) to become a new type of neuron. This process helps reduce harmful inflammation, supports the survival of brain cells, and creates new brain circuits to restore function that was lost due to disease or injury. We've received over $2 million in funding, which has helped us gather strong data in lab studies and in animal models of diseases like eye disorders, stroke, AD, and ALS. With this solid foundation, we're now ready to push two key products forward into the next stages of development and prepare them for clinical trials. With support from CIHR CMZ funding, we aim to bring both products to a point where they're ready for human clinical trials (IND ready). This will set the stage for attracting the investment and partnerships needed to move forward with clinical trials. The potential health impact is huge: approximately 1.5 million Canadians suffer from degenerative eye diseases, and around 1.65 million Canadians live with dementia, stroke, or ALS. Successfully developing these gene therapies will provide new treatment options for these patients, boost Canada's biotechnology sector, and offer health benefits worldwide.