Improper drug delivery to the target site, such as into the mitochondria, is still one of the greatest challenges in today's drug discovery and development, preventing candidate drugs from advancing to clinical use. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cells, and their malfunction generates oxidative stress to cells, which in turn supports the progression of a variety of human diseases, including many brain diseases. In this project, the aim is to identify mitochondrial membrane transporter expression and function in different brain cell types, which is not yet well understood. Together with computer-aided drug design, novel mitochondrial transporter-utilizing prodrugs are then developed, with the aims of delivering active drugs 1) across the blood-brain barrier, 2) into the brain parenchymal cells, such as neurons, and 3) into mitochondria in the target cells. Therefore, the project aims to produce more efficient and safer drugs to treat and prevent brain diseases in the future.

2025

2029