Aim
The KIDnEx2 project (2025 - 2028) aims to revolutionize kidney drug discovery via an inverse approach, using a novel fragment library to unveil ligandable targets in the kidney proteome.
Approach
The KIDnEx2 team will pioneer an inverse drug discovery approach, using electrophilic scout fragments to map the kidney’s ligandable proteome. By pinpointing and validating novel targets, the project opens new paths for potential therapies in cardiorenalmetabolic diseases. Combining advanced proteomics, computational biology, and in vitro models, the team aims to characterize proteins tied to podocyte function and metabolic pathways as potential targets. A scout fragment library, open datasets, and publications will also lead to an adaptable IDD pipeline for broader impact.
THE KDInEx2 TEAM
Academic team members
- Markus Rinschen, Assoc. Professor, Aarhus University
- Thomas Poulsen, Professor, Aarhus University
- Amelie Stein, Assoc. Professor, University of Copenhagen
Industrial team member
- Asha Seth, AstraZeneca
- Karolina Nilsson, AstraZeneca
- Michael Christensen, Gubra
- Frederikke Emilie Sembach, Gubra
- Maria Ougaard, Gubra
- Claus Stie Kallesøe, grit42
INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN KIDnEx2
AstraZeneca is global biopharmaceutical company with many different focus areas - kidney diease is just one of them. The head quater of AstraZeneca is based in Sweden.
Grit42 is a Danish company specializing in easy-to-usesoftware available to scientists and projects managers working on pre-clinical drug discovery. As of 5 May 2024, software from Grit42 is available as open source.
Gubra is a CRO and biotech company based in Denmark. It specializes in preclinical contract research and peptide-based drug discovery within metabolic and fibrotic diseases.
Yyou can find out more about the industrial partners in KIDnEx2 using the links below.
"We're excited to join the KIDnEx2 project to explore new mechanisms of action and support innovation in drug discovery within kidney disease. By sharing samples from our advanced mouse model of diabetic kidney disease, we hope to help drive progress in cardiorenal metabolic research.
Gubra works broadly with biotech and big pharma companies across the globe to test new treatments strategies in our well characterized rodent models of kidney disease. By participating in this ODIN project, we aim to help accelerate drug discovery within kidney disease.”
Michael Chrsitensen, Director at Gubra
"grit42 recently decided to open source our main scientific data management platform ‘grit’ to make it accessible to both companies and academia.
Our participation in KIDnEx2 is a perfect opportunity for us to validate that we have succeeded in creating a platform that allows researchers to easily manage and share data during and after projects.”
Claus Stie Kallesøe, CEO at grit42
ABOUT ODIN
ODIN brings researchers from academia and industry together to co-create need-driven research projects that can lead to new treatments, diagnostics, tools, and technologies. We fund the strongest project ideas through competitive funding calls. Companies cannot receive ODIN funding, but participation is free of charge and gives access to academic expertise, new collaborations, and opportunities to explore early-stage research challenges.
ODIN is supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Lundbeck Foundation.
CONTACT ODIN
You are welcome to contact us if you have questions or comments. Reach out to odin@au.dk.
Although the platform spans five Danish universities, we're based in Aarhus. Our office is located at Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Bldg 1535-117.
