#USA #San Diego #NIH Grant #Alzheimer's Research #Novoron Bioscience

Novoron Bioscience Secures $2.5 Million NIH Grant for Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery

In a significant stride towards combatting one of the most debilitating neurodegenerative diseases, Novoron Bioscience, a biotechnology firm based in San Diego, has recently been granted $2.5 million by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) as part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This funding aims to propel the development of Novoron’s innovative human brain organoid technology, which is designed to facilitate the discovery and evaluation of potential Alzheimer's treatments.

Alzheimer's disease presents a complex challenge for researchers, primarily due to the limitations of traditional laboratory models that often fail to accurately mimic the intricate nature of human brain biology. Novoron’s platform utilizes human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical organoids. These miniature models of human brains provide a more representative environment for studying synaptic connections and cell interactions, thus promising to enhance the predictive power of drug discovery initiatives.

Travis Stiles, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Novoron Bioscience, emphasized the significance of this funding. "This award allows us to put human biology at the center of Alzheimer's drug discovery," he stated. According to Stiles, the organoid platform facilitates the identification of compounds that can effectively interrupt the spread of tau protein, a key factor in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

The $2.5 million grant will support a series of strategic objectives geared toward validating Novoron’s high-throughput organoid screening platform. Among the goals is to conduct a benchmarking screen of approximately 3,096 FDA-approved compounds to assess their capability in limiting tau propagation. Furthermore, the integration of transcriptomic and AI-supported analyses will allow researchers to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of various compounds in a systematic manner.

A notable aspect of Novoron’s research strategy is its focus on understanding low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), a crucial player in the propagation of tau. Preliminary studies have shown that NOVO118, a specific antagonist of LRP1, can effectively reduce tau spread, showcasing a promising avenue for targeted Alzheimer's therapeutics. The identification of a druggable binding pocket within LRP1 signifies a step forward in the design of selective small-molecule inhibitors, enriching the company’s repertoire for future drug development.

As part of the research funded by the grant (Grant Number R44AG097355 awarded in September 2025), Novoron aims to reach several critical milestones, including full validation of their organoid platform and identification of lead candidates that demonstrate potential therapeutic effects. The company anticipates that the generation of robust data will not only enhance understanding within the scientific community but also facilitate partnerships with pharmaceutical firms for further development and investor engagement.

Novoron Bioscience is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by neurodegenerative diseases. By leveraging pathways associated with LRP1, the company strives to restore function and slow disease progression in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, tauopathies, and spinal cord injuries.

With the recent grant, Novoron is set to advance its research efforts, pushing the boundaries of Alzheimer’s drug discovery and potentially transforming therapeutic strategies for this challenging and impactful area of medicine. For more detailed information, you can visit Novoron’s official website.