TEAM: Liesbeth Reneman, Bram Coolen, Gustav Strijkers, Daphne Naessens
Purpose and goal
As many as 20 million people in EU/US suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a chronic psychiatric condition for which no effective treatment exists today. Disruption of the endocannabinoid (ECx) system is a key factor in PTSD and represents a novel target to develop effective treatments. EndoCARE aims to develop a first-in-class drug SYT-510, functioning as a selective ECx reuptake inhibitor and thereby restoring the physiological ECx levels offering a safer and more effective pharmacotherapy of PTSD.
Expected results and effects
EndoCARE aims to develop a first-in-class drug SYT-510, functioning as a selective ECx reuptake inhibitor and thereby restoring the physiological ECx levels. SYT-510 featuring a novel mechanism of action should offer a safer and more effective pharmacotherapy of PTSD.
Planned approach and implementation
SYT-510 is a first-in-class, Selective Endocannabinoid (ECx) Reuptake Inhibitor. The major aims of the projects are:
a)To elucidate the mechanism of action of SYT-510 using electrophysiology and microdialysis.
b)To develop and validate a rodent model relevant to PTSD.
c)To carry out efficacy studies of SYT-510 in the PTSD model.
d)To assess the effect of SYT-510 using MRI neuroimaging as a translational technique.
e)To assess correlations between the levels of ECx and other biomarkers in the brain, blood and CSF obtained from behavioral and ph/fMRI studies on the PTSD model.