Meet the P2P CPP team
The ultimate aim of the P2P CPP project is to develop a safe and efficient means of getting drugs into cells. The strategy is inspired by nature, which has shown that short peptides can carry numerous biologics across the cell membrane. We will use our expertise in membrane biology and the vascular system to optimize and generalize the use of cell-penetrating peptides. The project will have broad potential applications for the development of pharmaceuticals with intracellular targets. Below the members of the P2P CPP team introduce themselves.
HANNE POULSEN
Associate professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University:
I study membrane proteins using electrophysiology to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of transporters and channels, including the sodium pump and the NMDA receptor. In my laboratory, we will examine the effects of cell-penetrating peptides on membrane currents.
XINGYA CHANG
Research assistant, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University:
In my past research experience, I have been involved in developing drugs to treat hearing loss; RNA metabolism mechanisms; Adult neural stem cell development and molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease. In Aarhus, I use electrophysiological techniques to evaluate the cellular effects of cell-penetrating peptides. With two-electrode voltage-clamping, I can measure currents caused by the peptides with a resolution of ~10 milliseconds. I will be comparing these immediate effects for different peptides with and without different drug conjugations.
DANIEL OTZEN
Professor, iNANO, Aarhus University:
My own core competence is within protein biophysics and I will use this to monitor at the molecular level how different peptides produced within P2P interact with membranes of different lipid compositions, both in terms of the structural changes the peptides undergo during these interactions (changes in secondary and potentially tertiary structure), the mechanism of interactions (kinetics of binding and folding, different steps involved) and the strength of interactions (affinity, stoichiometry).
ULF SIMONSEN
Professor of Pharmacology, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University:
I am educated as medical doctor at Aarhus University, Denmark and followed the specialist courses in Clinical Pharmacology. I have a Ph.D. from Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. The focus of my research is on pulmonary- and cardiovascular pharmacology. I am a co-founder of Initiator Pharma A/S. We will examine the effects of cell penetrating peptides on the cardiovascular system.
ESTÉFANO PINILLA
Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University:
I am a pharmacist by training and I study the effects of drugs in the cardiovascular system to find better therapeutics. For this project, I will examine the cardiovascular effects of cell-penetrating peptides both in isolated arteries and in the whole organism, coupling my observations with the obtained electrophysiological effects.
RICHARD BETHELL
Chief Development Officer, STipe Therapeutics ApS:
I trained in biological chemistry and have been working on the discovery and development of new drugs in the biopharma industry for the last 30 years. At STipe Therapeutics – a biopharma company founded based on research performed at Aarhus University - I’m responsible for all aspects of Research and Development, including the biological characterization and development of peptide drugs that are delivered into the cytoplasm via cell-penetrating peptides.