Biophysical, Structural, and Biochemical Investigations of Natural Compounds Targeting Non-Canonical Dna Structures for Neurological Disease Therapeutic Development

(1) Societal Impact: The proposed study addresses the urgent unmet medical need in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS and FTD, which currently lack effective treatments. The development of structure-based therapeutic strategies has the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life, while also reducing the societal burden of long-term care for affected individuals and their families. (2) Economic Impact: Natural compound–based therapeutic candidates will provide a foundation for cost-effective drug development. Successful outcomes could stimulate collaborations with the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors in Taiwan, fostering translational research and innovation. This project can contribute to Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global neurodegenerative drug discovery market. (3) Academic Impact: This project will advance fundamental knowledge of non-canonical nucleic acid structures in disease biology. The integration of X-ray crystallography, biophysical assays, and cellular models will create a multidisciplinary research platform. Furthermore, the project will provide training opportunities for graduate students and young researchers, strengthening Taiwan’s research capacity in biomedical sciences and drug discovery.

Project ID:PA11412-2162
External Project ID:NSTC114-2311-B182-004-MY3