The tanycyte barrier is a cell layer which limits the brain access of drugs like liraglutide and peptide hormones like GLP-1, Insulin, Leptin and Ghrelin.

The project proposes to generate a cell model of the tanycyte barrier, so we can screen new weight loss medicines before they are tested in animals and humans. This new screening model will greatly benefit development of drug compounds. The characterization of the transport processes in the barrier, which are necessary to validate the model, will also give us new and groundbreaking understand on receptor-mediated transcytosis, i.e. transcellular movement of receptors which ferry cargo to the brain.

 So far, the academic applicant group has 4 partners:

• The Morten Schallburg Nielsen group from Aarhus University
• Birger Brodin group from University of Copenhagen
• The Group of Vincent Prevot from University of Lille, INSERM,France,
• The group of Lenka Maletinska from IOCB, Prague.

We are currently looking for:

• Input and feedback, especially on needs from industry end users
• Industry partners interested in joining the project