Stephen Nappi, Assoc. VP of Tech Commercialization and Business Development; Josh Gladden, VP of Research; Salim Merali, Laura H. Carnell Professor; Todd Abrams, Innovation Nest Executive Director
Photo by Courtesy of the Innovation Nest
In December, Salim Merali, PhD, Temple University School of Pharmacy Associate Professor of Research and Laura H. Carnell Professor, was recognized as an inaugural awardee of the Innovation Flight Fund.
His project, titled De-risking APL Development Through Human Kidney Organoid Toxicity Assessment of Optimized Formulation, was chosen alongside projects from professors at the College of Science and Technology, the Kornberg School of Dentistry, and the College of Engineering.
Dr. Merali’s project will evaluate APL toxicity using human kidney organoid systems derived from induced pluripotent stem cells to determine the no-observed-adverse-effect level. This work will advance a first-in-class therapeutic targeting 4–HNE–mediated carbonyl damage, addressing a root cause of insulin resistance. Successful completion will deliver a novel strategy to modify disease progression in T2D and provide a platform for future clinical development.
Congratulations to Dr. Merali and all of the winners!