News & Topics
【Dr. ITAKA Keiji】
Development of a new treatment to reduce the sequelae after cerebral infarction
Prof. Keiji Itaka (TMDU: Tokyo Medical and Dental University), a principal scientist at iCONM and a leader of COINS sub-theme 3, published a paper on the treatment of cerebral ischemic disease using mRNA medicine in the international academic journal “Biomaterials”, and it was covered by Nihon Keizai Shimbun issued on January 29. It has been confirmed that when mRNA encoding a protein “Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)” is loaded into polymeric nanomicelles and administered to brain ischemic disease model rats, neuronal cell death was suppressed and weakened memory was improved. Since the rapid onset of the effect can be confirmed, it can be expected to have the effect of improving the brain function that has declined due to cerebral infarction.
See: TMDU Homepage
A treatment for osteoarthritis using mRNA medicine has been adopted by AMED in collaboration with Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners Inc.
The Chemical Daily dated January 5 reported that the R&D research conducted by Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners Inc. based on the research of a treatment for osteoarthritis using mRNA medicine by Dr. ITAKA Keiji, COINS Theme Leader (Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University) has been adopted by AMED “Cyclic Innovation for Clinical empowerment (CiCLE)”.
Nano-DDS technology is essential for the clinical application of mRNA drugs, and nanocarriers based on polymer nanomicelles that do not stimulate the immune system are applied.
Dr. ITAKA Keiji, COINS Principal Research Scientist (Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University) answering questions about mRNA vaccines
On December 19, Dr. ITAKA Keiji, iCONM Principal Research Scientist (COINS Theme Leader / Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University) answered the questions on “Why was the new corona vaccine made in large quantities in such a short time? -Amazing cutting-edge gene therapy called mRNA” in the article published in PRESIDENT Online