Prof. Cryan leads €4.8 million collaboration on autism research

27 Aug 2015

A €4.8 million 4-year project led by Prof. John Cryan and Prof Ted Dinan (Psychiatry) and in which Dr. Harriet Schellekens is also playing a key role, has recently been announced with 4D pharma plc, a UK-based pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of live biotherapeutics,  for Autism Spectrum Disorder and associated CNS Disorders ('ASD'). 

A €4.8 million 4-year project led by Prof. John Cryan and Prof Ted Dinan (Psychiatry) and in which Dr. Harriet Schellekens is also playing a key role, has recently been announced with 4D pharma plc, a UK-based pharmaceutical company focusing on the development of live biotherapeutics,  for Autism Spectrum Disorder and associated CNS Disorders ('ASD'). The programme, which will create and support several hi-tech jobs in Cork, will focus on strains identified as potentially therapeutically relevant by the Company's proprietary MicroRx platform.

The prevalence of ASD is estimated to be around 1 in 70 children with reported cases steadily increasing since the 1960's attributed to improved societal awareness and diagnosis. Although the genetic basis of a minority of cases is known, the disease pathways and mechanisms are poorly understood, presenting a significant challenge to drug discovery.

http://www.ucc.ie/research/apc/content/news_events/news%20New/news115.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/48m-deal-for-irish-autism-research-347001.html