Capacity building of a compound screening facility for Cuban-developed bioactive compounds targeting cell death and inflammation

Cell death is a crucial process in development, homeostasis and (patho)physiology. Most of high rate morbi-mortality diseases in Cuba like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with a deregulated balance between cell death and cell survival. Cuba offers an abundant source of natural and synthetic candidate drugs with potential effects relevant for the above mentioned diseases. However, infrastructure and know-how for experimental and preclinical evaluation of these drugs in valid cell-based models is lacking in Cuba, preventing further development of local potential drugs. This TEAM proposal aims at: 1) implementation of a methodological platform (knowledge and infrastructure currently lacking) in Cuba for the study of cell death mechanism and inflammation; 2) training of Cuban researchers in molecular mechanisms of cell death and inflammation, and especially in the preclinical evaluation of compound efficacy in relevant experimental disease models; 3) obtaining preclinical evidence for the molecular mechanism of action of novel drugs obtained in Cuba as proof-of-concept.