Calcium levels in cells have critical functions. Moreover, calcium signaling plays a crucial role in the control of neuronal function and plasticity. Consequently, calcium sensing dysfunction can lead to a variety of pathological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or neuromuscular disorders such as Dystonia.

Changes in neuronal Ca2+ concentration are detected by Ca2+-binding proteins that can interact with and regulate target proteins to modify their function. Members of the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) protein family include Neurocalcin D (NCALD) and Hippocalcin (HPCA). Inventors have previously characterized these proteins and generated variants that can serve as Ca sensing probes in vitro and in vivo.Based on their research, vectors/probes can be developed that could be introduced into living cells or organisms that enable the mapping of calcium changes associated

with any process that the modified cells may be involved in. Such tools are marketable to other neuro-researchers and can be further tailored to drug development for neurological disorders.

Competitive Advantages

• There is acute need for better research tools in neurobiology research. The invention represents an opportunity to develop additional research tools such as vectors, cellular assay, and transgenic animals to study a variety of pathological conditions.
• Inventors already conducted extensive research and have results that can be translated into a commercial product.
• The current invention has the potential to be developed further into diagnostics or therapeutics.

Opportunity

• Life science research tools and reagents is a lucrative market estimated at $48.2 billion in 2015 and was expected to reach $58 billion by 2020.
• The invention can be used to study not only Dystonia, neuromuscular, and neurodegenerative disorders, but also developed as a research tool to study other Ca sensing proteins.

Rowan University is seeking a partner(s) for further development and commercialization of this technology. The inventor is available to collaborate with interested companies.

There is acute need for better research tools in neurobiology research. The invention represents an opportunity to develop additional research tools such as vectors, cellular assay, and transgenic animals to study a variety of pathological conditions. Inventors already conducted extensive research and have results that can be translated into a commercial product.

The current invention has the potential to be developed further into diagnostics or therapeutics.

Life science research tools and reagents is a lucrative market estimated at $48.2 billion in 2015 and was expected to reach $58 billion by 2020.
The invention can be used to study not only Dystonia, neuromuscular, and neurodegenerative disorders, but also developed as a research tool to study other Ca sensing proteins.