ABOUT US
Who We Are
Why Alzheimer’s Disease?
Everything we do is guided by a single goal: to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is one one medicine’s most frustrating
diseases. Today, nearly 50 million people are affected
worldwide by this disease and related dementias.
Estimates predict this number may rise to over
150 million in the next 30 years as populations
gradually age.
Despite decades of research, Alzheimer’s disease
does not yet have a cure. Patients face progressive
deterioration of their memory, cognition and
executive function without significant therapies.
Today, we are appreciating the complexity of
Alzheimer’s disease as a multi-factorial disorder
of inflammation, protein misfolding, energy
dysregulation and much more. The cure will
likely be similarly multifaceted and will attack the
disease on multiple fronts.
That is why here in the Weaver Lab, our team works
to address Alzheimer’s disease using biological,
synthetic, and theoretical expertise. Together, we work to
realise our sole mission: a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Our Approach
Molecular Biology
In the first step towards drug discovery, our biologists explore the pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease to probe for druggable targets. These projects involve meticulous analysis of the behavior of brain cells and their components, in both their normal and disease states.
Our biologists work in collaboration with lab and industry partners to isolate the specific proteins and molecules that lead to the degeneration of brain cells and research how we can stop these elements from malfunctioning.
Synthetic Chemistry
The molecules that we believe have the best chance of success are made in the wet lab by our synthetic organic chemists. Depending on the nature of the molecule under investigation, the synthesis can require multiple intermediates, each with their own purification and characterization steps. On occasion, our chemists have devised and published novel synthetic procedures.
Pharmacology
The most promising drug candidates are then put through a battery of pharmacological testing in which the drug is first exposed to multi-cellular living systems. These assays give information the about efficacy, safety, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the potential drug.
At this stage, drugs are also tested for their ability to cross the blood brain barrier and effectuate targets within the brain. The most successful of these drugs will go on to early trials in humans.
Computational Chemistry
Once a target has been identified and validated, our team of computational chemists investigates how we can intervene to prevent these elements from becoming diseased. Through atomic and molecular modeling, quantum mechanical simulations and virtual screening, they help direct our lab to make the best choices for further investigation.
This team also explores the chemical basis for the origin of Alzheimer’s disease to help guide our future directions.
Protein and Cellular Biology
Our protein and cellular biologists test the synthesized and purified molecule within biological systems to identify its efficacy. This process may involve relatively simple protein assays that can be completed over 8 to 10 hours, or extensive cellular assays which involve incubation over days and weeks.
The results of these assays then help redirect the computational and synthetic chemistry in an iterative process where molecules are made, tested, refined, remade and retested until a viable clinical candidate is discovered.
Our Team
Our Facilities
