Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the principal driver of blindness in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the macular leads to retinal damage and severe vision loss. Discovering the involvement of VEGF in the underlying mechanisms driving …

An estimated 20,160 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 4,410 deaths were expected in 2022. Current therapies for CLL include the administration of a monoclonal antibody, such as rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, to promote clearance of malignant B cells. The Need Current therapies…

In today’s healthcare landscape, increasingly highly pathogenic and multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) strains are replacing traditional methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in both community and hospital settings. The Need The rise of these resilient multi-drug resistant bacteria has …

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of irregular cardiac rhythm (arrhythmia), affecting approximately 3% of the US population. It is a significant risk factor for heart failure, ischemic stroke, and sudden cardiac death. The AF mortality rate is growing globally, and risk factors known …

Patients diagnosed with advanced liposarcoma (LPS) face a significant treatment challenge, as current chemotherapy approaches exhibit low response rates of only 25%, leading to a dismal overall survival at 5 years, ranging between 20% to 34%. The Need Despite extensive efforts, there has been no s…

Papaverine is an FDA-approved phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitor and its clinical use is due to these effects on blood pressure and vascular tone. However, it was found to also be a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. Papaverine’s mitochondrial complex I inhibition has been sho…

Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is one of the most significant food-borne diseases, in the United States and globally. There are no vaccines available for human use to prevent this disease, and only broad-spectrum antibiotics available to treat the disease. However, antibiotic resistance is on the ris…

Leishmaniasis is a protozoal parasitic disease transmitted by sandflies. The disease affects millions of people worldwide. Sandflies carrying the promastigote form of the parasite bite a human host, attracting macrophages to the site of the wound. Promastigotes are then phagocytized by the macroph…

Oral cancer affects nearly 50,000 Americans each year and has a five year survival rate of 57%. Often, oral cancer is only discovered when it has metastasized, as it does not present recognizable symptoms, and it has a high risk of producing secondary tumors. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a…

Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by Leishmania parasites, spread by the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. It is prevalent in the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe and is considered a neglected disease. Over a million people are infected with the parasite yearly, leading to skin sores and i…