The Center for Convergent Bioscience & Medicine (CCBM), a one-stop solution for immuno-inflammatory disease drug discovery, development and translation.
The Center for Convergent Bioscience and Medicine (CCBM) takes a rational approach to better understand immuno-inflammatory diseases and develop therapeutic solutions through the convergence of divergent faculty members in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and applied mathematics (STEAM) disciplines at UA. It is a signature research center aligned with Alabama Life Research Institute (ALRI) under Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) with a mission to discover, develop, and translate.
Discover
Effective inflammatory disease drug discovery requires a thorough understanding of the signaling pathways involved in immune responses and their activation and regulation. CCBM exploits new developments in genome, proteome and secretome research for drug discovery, including high throughput screening of natural products, molecular design through artificial intelligence and drug repurposing. Machine learning approaches are used to interrogate quantitative data to inform the chemical design and optimization of drug discovery and development.
Develop
CCBM adopts a systematic methodology to select the most promising drug/druglike and drug delivery candidates for potential therapies, employing a range of testing capability. CCBM investigates a broad array of formulation strategies during the drug development phases, supported by analytical assays to characterize drug degradation and impurities, and underpinned by a Quality by Design approach. Targeted and controlled release systems for small molecule and biologic drugs are collaboratively developed through the design and in vitro evaluation in biological model systems and experimental/analytical tools at the molecular, cellular, and integrative levels of novel materials and excipients prior to their preclinical testing and clinical translation.
Translate
CCBM currently leverages the expertise of nutritionists, neuroscientists, and psychologists to understand neurodegeneration associated with immuno-inflammatory diseases. Translation studies are supported by participant response systems including MRI scanning and eye-tracking for aspects of human behavior and cognitive function. Multiple perspectives on non-clinical small and large animal safety and efficacy data enables our programs to meet regulatory guidance prior to clinical studies.
