Signal Transduction
Research being conducted at the South Dakota Signal Transduction Center, a 2010 Research Center, is exploring signal transduction pathways and their regulation of cellular and tissue communications.
- Examines the pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation, cell death, response to stress, and the maintenance of constant physiological conditions.
- Discovering how cells are stimulated to develop normally, and how diseases tell them to react abnormally.
- Research is about deciphering what causes proteins to combine in different ways and temporarily form small molecules that in turn prompt a cell to do something, or not.
Thyroid Hormones & the Hearts Walls
In 1996 Dr. Martin Gerdes (principal investigator at the SD Signal Transduction Center, one of the 2010 Centers created in 2004) announced the discovery that heart failure occurs because of a change in the shape of the cells in the muscles that contract the heart. The cells, known as mytocytes, become very long but don’t increase in diameter and the muscle grows weaker. Because of this change, the heart can’t pump blood as effectively. Other organs become engorged because the weakened heart isn’t moving enough blood out of them. Breathing becomes difficult. Death comes for many heart-failure patients within five years after diagnosis.
In May 2005 Dr. Martin Gerdes announced findings that showed a moderate dose of thyroid hormones in laboratory animals changed the shape of cardiac cells back to normal and reduced stress on the heart’s walls.
Light-Activated Materials
Developments underway at the Center for the Research & Development of Light-Activated Materials are formulating bio-adhesives that provide doctors with an alternative to staples and stitches in closing wounds and drawing tissues together.
The Center has licensed intellectual property to PhotoBioMed and continues to collaborate with the company to develop additional applications for the patented technology in a wide range of medical fields including opthomology, cosmetics, plastic surgery and veterinary applications.
Biodefense Antibodies
Hematech, Inc., a subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company, is conducting research that uses blood from genetically altered cattle to create vaccines and antibodies to help produce human antibody-based drugs to treat human diseases.
The first likely project the company could submit to the FDA is its work on biodefense antibody drugs done in coordination with the dept of defense. The biodefense antibodies are aimed at bioterrorism agents such as anthrax and botulinum toxin.
Corneal Reshaping Contact Lenses
Dakota Sciences, has developed the SoClear contact lens brand, a lens offering the comfort of soft lenses with the rigidity of gas permeable lenses.
A patent is pending on a new lens that reshapes corneas (known as orthokeratology). These lenses are worn at night to correct different kinds of vision problems and are a different option for those who don’t want permanent laser surgery.
