We are pleased to announce that our second molecular project, SRG002, has passed its first in vitro assay test. Using the well-characterized and readily-available HT-22 cell line (mouse hippocampal neurons), this molecule rescued them from conditions mimicking that in ALS. We will now move on to cultures of mouse and human motor neurons. SRG is grateful to your support which made this possible.
Gear Up!
Get your SRG Gear! Limited time offer of some of the same goodies given away in our crowdfunder! Click our Donate! page and the Gear link at top or follow our navigation directly to the limited time offer.
RIP TtWwOo
RIP Tom Ohlson
We at SRG mourn the passing of our friend and fellow PALS Tom Ohlson. For details of his memorial service, please see: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasOhlsonTtWwOo.
“In lieu of flowers, the family requests we honor Tom by continuing his legacy of assisting others with ALS and to see treatments available through research.
http://www.sciopen.org/wp/donate/
http://community.als.net/ThomasOhlson
“
Hello World! (again)
We are proud to announce our new site! We are still getting the dust settled so please bear with us. We hope you like the new look and feel.
Press Release: Crowdfunding Campaign – March 17, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric N. Valor
(ericv@sciopen.org – 831-708-8799)
SciOpen Research Group Launches
Crowd Source Financing for Exploration of Novel Treatment for ALS
March 3, 2014 – SciOpen Research Group, Inc. (SRG), the
world’s first fully-functional “guerrilla biotech”, announced its
currently ongoing preclinical testing program of a novel molecule in the battle against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS, also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in which the nerves supplying commands to the muscles die, leaving the patient paralyzed and eventually succumbing to death from respiratory failure. Average survival time from diagnosis is 2-5 years. ALS has an incidence roughly similar to that of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but currently has no effective treatment.
SRG is testing a new molecule called J147, developed by Dr. David Schubert at The Salk Institute for Biomedical Studies. J147, a
synthetic derivative of curcumin, demonstrated profound efficacy in the mouse model of Alzheimer’s, even reversing memory deficits in aged mice of that model. Although it was originally developed for Alzheimer’s, SRG Founder Eric Valor recognized the similarity in J147-affected pathways to those of ALS. SRG arranged to have Dr. Schubert test J147 in the mouse model of ALS. That work commenced in the last week of January, 2014.
SRG, a public charity under IRS regulation 501c3, is launching a crowdfunding campaign to fund microscopic tissue examination of the mice used in the J147 project. This tissue examination will determine motor neuron survival between treated and untreated specimens, along with other histological data. The data gathered from this phase of the project will be crucial to understanding the effect of J147 in tissue relevant to ALS. As per its mission and status as a public charity, SRG will publish the findings in an Open-Access journal freely available to the public. The crowdfunding campaign will be hosted on the site Indiegogo.
About SciOpen Research Group:
SRG is a team of Persons(s) with ALS (PALS), citizen scientists, doctors, and pharmaceutical industry professionals who are frustrated by the limitations of the current drug development process aimed at treating ALS. SRG seeks out interesting new molecules or repurposed drugs to test in various models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
SRG is a new type of biotech called a “guerrilla biotech”. It is young, small, aggressive, and is the new wave of how science will be done in the future. By outsourcing and utilizing Cloud-based infrastructure, it can do the same science as large institutions for a fraction of the cost.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/j147-therapeutic-for-als
About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.
Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, M.D., the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.
Mouse in the House!
What do you call 100 mice in a box?
The beginning of a beautiful research project!
We are currently hosting nearly 100 of the little critters in the lab as we try to keep them alive past about May/June (based on average lifespan of the SOD1 G93A transgenic research mice). It’s exciting to be underway with this project. Not only that, but we received a few extra which we are putting to good use getting some preliminary data from other prospective molecules beside J147.
Join us in wishing for wiggling little whiskers in June!
It’s On!
In the early summer of 2013, SRG applied to Prize4Life for access to their colony of G93A transgenic research mice at Jackson Laboratories. Our research proposal for J147 was accepted and we were given granted sufficient animal numbers to properly conduct our study.
Unfortunately we just missed the last breeding cycle for the year. That meant waiting for the next cycle. SRG is pleased to announce that we have received the inventory list with individual animal identities! We expect delivery by the end of January.
We are very excited to commence our first research program and demonstrate that guerrilla biotechs can perform quality science. Stay tuned for more good news!
Prize4Life Treatment Prize Entry
We are pleased to announce our entry into the Prize4Life Treatment Prize. We are excited to be part of this program and are hopeful for success.
First Candidate Molecule!
We are pleased to announce a partnership with Salk Institute For Biological Studies for funding development of a candidate molecule called J147. J147 is a molecule developed at Salk to treat Alzheimer’s and has shown encouraging results in the animal model. We recognized that it works in ways which are also relevant for ALS, and are currently preparing to commence fundraising to get the first experiments done in the ALS animal model. We are hopeful for similar results as in the Alzheimer’s model.
Introducing: Guerrilla Biotech!
SciOpen Research Group would like to announce the arrival of guerrilla biotech innovation!