Helena Karlström receives a Novo Nordisk grant for research into a new treatment for small vessel disease
Helena Karlström, senior lecturer and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet, has been awarded a Pioneer Innovator Grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation worth approximately SEK 1.7 million. The project aims to develop a new antibody-based treatment for the inherited cerebrovascular disorder CADASIL, a form of cerebral small vessel disease which is a common cause of, amongst other things, stroke and eventually memory problems, for which there is currently no effective treatment.
Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a common cause of stroke and age-related memory problems. It is also the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease.
A rare but severe form of the disease is CADASIL, which is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene. These mutations lead to the accumulation of harmful protein aggregates in the brain's small blood vessels, gradually impairing their function. There is currently no treatment that can halt disease progression.
Helena Karlström, associate professor and research group leader at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, KI, has now received funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Pioneer Innovator Grant Sustainability & Health programme to develop a new therapeutic approach designed to remove these protein aggregates and restore blood vessel function.
“It is both exciting and a great honour to receive this grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and to have our work selected among so many excellent applications. Our goal is to contribute to the development of a new treatment that can improve the lives of the many people affected by cerebral small vessel disease,” says Helena Karlström.
Building on promising research findings
The project builds on previous discoveries made by Helena Karlström's research group, which has shown that immunotherapy can reduce protein aggregates and improve blood vessel function in animal models. The next step is to develop monoclonal antibodies that specifically target the harmful aggregates.
The researchers will evaluate the treatment's effectiveness and investigate any potential adverse effects. They will also identify blood biomarkers that could eventually be used to monitor disease progression and assess treatment response in patients.
“The ultimate goal of my research is to move closer to a therapy that significantly improves the quality of life of people living with CADASIL and their families. Our project is unique and represents an important step towards developing effective treatments for cerebral small vessel diseases,” says Helena Karlström.
The Pioneer Innovator Grant supports research discoveries with commercial potential and helps researchers translate promising scientific findings into innovations that can benefit patients, healthcare systems and society.