Repurposed Drug Neuroprotective Nanocarriers for Targeting Retinal Diseases

Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the main causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, yet the only intraocular approved treatment, Luxturna®, is suitable for less than 1% of patients. A promising way to tackle this disease is by targeting protein aggregation, a process involved in all forms of retinitis pigmentosa and other brain-related disorders. Most potential treatments are still in early stages, so repurposing existing drugs with known safety records can speed up the development of effective therapies.Tideglusib, a drug initially approved for the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy, has shown promise in reducing protein aggregation, thereby offering protection against neurodegeneration. However, it needs to reach the retina, its therapeutical target, to be effective. The RENASCENT project aims to create a new treatment for all retinitis pigmentosa patients by developing a cutting-edge formulation to deliver tideglusib to the retina via subconjunctival injection, bypassing the challenges of current intraocular treatments that are poorly tolerated.This MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship will be conducted over two years at the University of Parma in Italy, under the guidance of Prof. Silvia Pescina, a leading expert in eye drug delivery. The project also includes a collaboration with the University of Alicante (Spain) and a visit to the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France) to explore the physical properties and neuroscience aspects of the designed formulation. Alongside the scientific work, there will be communication activities to engage the public and share the findings also to an academic audience, providing valuable experience in Ophthalmology and Pharmaceutical Technology for Dr. Marco Brugnera. This project is a significant opportunity for his career, bridging academic research and industry innovation, and has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa.