Amarillo researchers identify promising compounds to treat neurodegenerative diseases

Abraham Al-Ahmad and Paul Trippier

Abraham Al-Ahmad and Paul Trippier

A study published in the November issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, the nation’s leading medicinal chemistry journal, describes new compounds designed and synthetized in the lab of Paul Trippier, Ph.D., that show the effects of protecting human neurons in a dish from a form of cell death common in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

Trippier is an assistant professor for the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy in Amarillo. He is collaborating with the lab of Abraham Al-Ahmad, an assistant professor in the same TTUHSC School of Pharmacy department. 

Trippier said the TTUHSC research team grew functional human neurons from stem cells and then treated them with the synthesized compounds. When cell death was induced, many more neurons that had been treated with the new compounds survived than did those that were not treated. 

“These compounds are in the early stages of drug discovery, but they show promise for the treatment of many different types of neurodegenerative disease,” Trippier said. “The advantage to this study is the use of stem cell-derived functional human neurons. Many studies have identified compounds that can protect either neuron-like cells or mouse neurons, but they rarely carry forward to show effect in humans.”

As the compounds developed in his and Al-Alamad’s labs already show effect in human neurons, Trippier said they are much more likely to be effective in patients, albeit in the distant future.

Related Stories

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.

Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated

On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.

Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience

Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.

Recent Stories

Education

Alumni Spotlight: Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N.

Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N., is the CEO of Perimeter Behavioral Health of Jackson.

Education

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Earns SACSCOC Recognition

TTUHSC has received a clean bill of health from the regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), following a Fifth-Year Interim Review by a committee from peer institutions.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents

Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.