Dementia Discovery Fund

Montara Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that focuses on developing a precision pharmacology platform aimed at creating innovative therapies for central nervous system diseases. By leveraging human genetics and machine learning, the company identifies and validates drug targets, which enhances the ability of medical professionals to deliver safe and effective treatments for patients suffering from neurological disorders. Montara Therapeutics' approach is designed to improve therapeutic outcomes and address unmet medical needs in the field of neurology.

TRIMTECH Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing targeted protein degradation therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Their innovative platform aims to degrade toxic protein aggregates, offering oral therapeutics with high specificity, a strong safety profile, and potential for personalized treatment approaches. This enables patients to access effective and safe treatments for neurological, inflammatory, and oncological conditions.

Harness Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company dedicated to developing a novel class of therapeutic RNAs known as SINEUPs®. This innovative technology allows for the precise upregulation of protein expression, providing a unique mechanism of action for challenging diseases. By significantly expanding the druggable proteome, Harness Therapeutics aims to address conditions that have been difficult to treat with traditional small molecules, biologics, or gene therapies. The company's primary focus is on central nervous system and ophthalmologic disorders, although the potential applications of its platform extend across various therapeutic areas. Harness Therapeutics is committed to meeting unmet medical needs by creating differentiated products that enhance the translation of important, validated neurodegenerative targets.

LoQus23 is a DDF-formed company focussing on targeting DNA damage repair pathways to treat Huntington’s disease and other triplet repeat diseases.

Montara Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that focuses on developing a precision pharmacology platform aimed at creating innovative therapies for central nervous system diseases. By leveraging human genetics and machine learning, the company identifies and validates drug targets, which enhances the ability of medical professionals to deliver safe and effective treatments for patients suffering from neurological disorders. Montara Therapeutics' approach is designed to improve therapeutic outcomes and address unmet medical needs in the field of neurology.

AstronauTx is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The company specializes in restoring the normal function of astrocytes, which are crucial for supporting neuronal activity and maintaining brain health. In healthy individuals, astrocytes play a vital role in metabolism and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier; however, in neurodegenerative diseases, their dysfunction can contribute to neurotoxicity. By targeting these processes, AstronauTx aims to enable healthcare professionals to more effectively address the challenges posed by dementias, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Violet Therapeutics is a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company focused on drug discovery for central nervous system diseases. The company utilizes innovative platforms that identify, map, and analyze cellular connectomes through barcoded viral tracing, offering insights into cell-cell interactions at a single-cell level. This approach aims to facilitate advancements in the understanding and treatment of neuroinflammation. Co-founded by Mass General Brigham Ventures and researchers from Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Violet Therapeutics is committed to exploring novel therapeutic targets to develop effective treatments for complex neurological conditions.

Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages groundbreaking research from the Akassoglou lab at Gladstone/UCSF, which identifies fibrin as a crucial factor in driving chronic innate immune activation associated with various diseases. By creating therapeutics that address neuroinflammation and vascular dysfunction, Therini Bio aims to provide potential treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients facing these challenging health issues.

Cerevance LLC is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a branch in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cerevance utilizes its NETSseq platform to profile specific brain cell types, including neurons and glial cells, within mature human brain tissue. By leveraging a substantial repository of over 15,000 human brain samples, the company generates extensive expression and epigenetic data, guiding the identification of promising therapeutic targets. This approach aims to address the early onset of central nervous system diseases by revealing critical transcriptional and epigenetic differences within affected brain regions.

Amphista Therapeutics Limited is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2017 and located in Motherwell, United Kingdom. It specializes in developing targeted protein degradation technology aimed at creating innovative cancer therapeutics. The company focuses on harnessing the body's natural processes to selectively degrade and eliminate disease-causing proteins. By advancing next-generation therapeutics, Amphista seeks to improve treatment efficacy for various diseases, particularly cancer, by modulating the abundance of proteins responsible for disease progression. This strategic approach aims to enhance patient outcomes and contribute to the advancement of therapeutic options in oncology.

Harness Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company dedicated to developing a novel class of therapeutic RNAs known as SINEUPs®. This innovative technology allows for the precise upregulation of protein expression, providing a unique mechanism of action for challenging diseases. By significantly expanding the druggable proteome, Harness Therapeutics aims to address conditions that have been difficult to treat with traditional small molecules, biologics, or gene therapies. The company's primary focus is on central nervous system and ophthalmologic disorders, although the potential applications of its platform extend across various therapeutic areas. Harness Therapeutics is committed to meeting unmet medical needs by creating differentiated products that enhance the translation of important, validated neurodegenerative targets.

AviadoBio is a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative gene therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, specifically targeting diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company leverages innovative research from King’s College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute to create its therapeutic platform. By integrating a deep understanding of brain biology with proprietary gene therapies, AviadoBio aims to effectively address the challenges of delivering treatments to the appropriate areas within the nervous system. The ultimate goal is to enhance the therapeutic potential of gene therapy, potentially halting or even reversing the progression of these debilitating conditions, thereby improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

LoQus23 is a DDF-formed company focussing on targeting DNA damage repair pathways to treat Huntington’s disease and other triplet repeat diseases.

Nitrase Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies targeting a newly identified class of enzymes known as Nitrases. Initially concentrating on Parkinson’s disease, Nitrase aims to create treatments that may slow or halt the progression of this condition. The company leverages its proprietary platform, which is based on the biochemical modification of proteins through nitration, to identify nitro-substrates and their relevance in various diseases. This approach not only addresses Parkinson's but also positions Nitrase to expand its research into other therapeutic indications, with the goal of offering novel medicines that target this specific enzyme pathway.

Harness Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company dedicated to developing a novel class of therapeutic RNAs known as SINEUPs®. This innovative technology allows for the precise upregulation of protein expression, providing a unique mechanism of action for challenging diseases. By significantly expanding the druggable proteome, Harness Therapeutics aims to address conditions that have been difficult to treat with traditional small molecules, biologics, or gene therapies. The company's primary focus is on central nervous system and ophthalmologic disorders, although the potential applications of its platform extend across various therapeutic areas. Harness Therapeutics is committed to meeting unmet medical needs by creating differentiated products that enhance the translation of important, validated neurodegenerative targets.

Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages groundbreaking research from the Akassoglou lab at Gladstone/UCSF, which identifies fibrin as a crucial factor in driving chronic innate immune activation associated with various diseases. By creating therapeutics that address neuroinflammation and vascular dysfunction, Therini Bio aims to provide potential treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients facing these challenging health issues.

Cumulus Neuroscience develops an AI-based digital biomarker platform to aid in the resolution of the most pressing healthcare challenges in neurodegeneration and psychiatry. Cumulus Neuroscience's platform is intended to provide the critical data and insight required for more rapid, robust, and cost-effective clinical trials that improve patient access to new therapies. The platform's novel insights change the future of clinical trials in brain disorders, allowing life-changing therapies to reach patients faster and more affordably.

BrainWaveBank, established in 2015, is a UK-based brain health research company. It specializes in developing data-centric solutions to track and understand cognitive health. The company's flagship product, also named BrainWaveBank, is a wearable EEG headset that measures brain activity while users engage in mobile games, enabling daily tracking of cognitive health at home. This data is securely stored and analyzed, creating neurocognitive profiles for individuals and populations, and aiding clinical professionals in advancing brain health research and treatments. The company has offices in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Dublin, Ireland.

Alchemab Therapeutics Ltd is a biotechnology company based in London, United Kingdom, focusing on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics aimed at patients with hard-to-treat diseases. Established in 2019 by Uri Laserson and Jane Osbourn, the company utilizes a transformative approach to identify drug targets and build a pipeline of antibody therapeutics. Alchemab's strategy involves harnessing naturally protective antibodies through an unbiased and function-first methodology that employs complementary processes and technologies. This innovative approach aims to provide treatments for various challenging conditions, including hard-to-treat cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

QurAlis Corporation is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing therapeutics for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Established in 2016 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, QurAlis employs proprietary platforms and biomarkers to create precision medicines that target genetically validated disease-causing alterations. The company’s pipeline includes innovative treatments aimed at specific subtypes of ALS, such as therapies that restore dysfunctional cellular waste clearance, manage overactive neurons, and eliminate toxic proteins. Through its advanced antisense oligonucleotides and small molecule programs, QurAlis seeks to halt disease progression and significantly improve patient outcomes for those affected by ALS.

Nitrase Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative therapies targeting a newly identified class of enzymes known as Nitrases. Initially concentrating on Parkinson’s disease, Nitrase aims to create treatments that may slow or halt the progression of this condition. The company leverages its proprietary platform, which is based on the biochemical modification of proteins through nitration, to identify nitro-substrates and their relevance in various diseases. This approach not only addresses Parkinson's but also positions Nitrase to expand its research into other therapeutic indications, with the goal of offering novel medicines that target this specific enzyme pathway.

Cerevance LLC is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a branch in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cerevance utilizes its NETSseq platform to profile specific brain cell types, including neurons and glial cells, within mature human brain tissue. By leveraging a substantial repository of over 15,000 human brain samples, the company generates extensive expression and epigenetic data, guiding the identification of promising therapeutic targets. This approach aims to address the early onset of central nervous system diseases by revealing critical transcriptional and epigenetic differences within affected brain regions.

Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by modulating mitophagy and autophagy. The company aims to address the degradation of toxic cellular components, which is a key factor in various neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By leveraging an understanding of critical neural pathways, Caraway Therapeutics seeks to discover and develop novel small molecules that can restore cellular balance and improve lysosomal function. Founded in 2018 and initially known as Rheostat Therapeutics, Inc., the company rebranded in 2019 to reflect its commitment to finding effective therapies for patients affected by these debilitating diseases.

Harness Therapeutics is a private biotechnology company dedicated to developing a novel class of therapeutic RNAs known as SINEUPs®. This innovative technology allows for the precise upregulation of protein expression, providing a unique mechanism of action for challenging diseases. By significantly expanding the druggable proteome, Harness Therapeutics aims to address conditions that have been difficult to treat with traditional small molecules, biologics, or gene therapies. The company's primary focus is on central nervous system and ophthalmologic disorders, although the potential applications of its platform extend across various therapeutic areas. Harness Therapeutics is committed to meeting unmet medical needs by creating differentiated products that enhance the translation of important, validated neurodegenerative targets.

AviadoBio is a biotechnology company focused on developing transformative gene therapies for neurodegenerative disorders, specifically targeting diseases such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company leverages innovative research from King’s College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute to create its therapeutic platform. By integrating a deep understanding of brain biology with proprietary gene therapies, AviadoBio aims to effectively address the challenges of delivering treatments to the appropriate areas within the nervous system. The ultimate goal is to enhance the therapeutic potential of gene therapy, potentially halting or even reversing the progression of these debilitating conditions, thereby improving the quality of life for affected individuals.

Alchemab Therapeutics Ltd is a biotechnology company based in London, United Kingdom, focusing on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics aimed at patients with hard-to-treat diseases. Established in 2019 by Uri Laserson and Jane Osbourn, the company utilizes a transformative approach to identify drug targets and build a pipeline of antibody therapeutics. Alchemab's strategy involves harnessing naturally protective antibodies through an unbiased and function-first methodology that employs complementary processes and technologies. This innovative approach aims to provide treatments for various challenging conditions, including hard-to-treat cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

Ribometrix, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. The company specializes in discovering and developing small molecule drugs that target functional three-dimensional RNA structures, aiming to address various human diseases. Ribometrix employs advanced techniques in RNA structural analysis, utilizing proprietary methods and state-of-the-art tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to identify novel small molecules that can inhibit the production of disease-associated proteins. By focusing on RNA biology, Ribometrix seeks to lead a new paradigm in small molecule therapeutics, enhancing the understanding and modulation of RNA's role in disease mechanisms.

Amathus Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing small-molecule therapeutics aimed at enhancing mitochondrial function. The firm specializes in creating treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly targeting stress-related conditions and Parkinson's disease. Amathus employs various molecular processes, including oxidative stress response, proteasomal degradation, unfolded protein response, autophagy, and mitophagy, to address the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. By concentrating on rare lysosomal-storage disorders, the company aims to provide healthcare professionals with innovative therapeutic options to improve patient outcomes in the field of neurodegeneration.

AstronauTx is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The company specializes in restoring the normal function of astrocytes, which are crucial for supporting neuronal activity and maintaining brain health. In healthy individuals, astrocytes play a vital role in metabolism and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier; however, in neurodegenerative diseases, their dysfunction can contribute to neurotoxicity. By targeting these processes, AstronauTx aims to enable healthcare professionals to more effectively address the challenges posed by dementias, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages groundbreaking research from the Akassoglou lab at Gladstone/UCSF, which identifies fibrin as a crucial factor in driving chronic innate immune activation associated with various diseases. By creating therapeutics that address neuroinflammation and vascular dysfunction, Therini Bio aims to provide potential treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients facing these challenging health issues.

LoQus23 is a DDF-formed company focussing on targeting DNA damage repair pathways to treat Huntington’s disease and other triplet repeat diseases.

Caraway Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on developing innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by modulating mitophagy and autophagy. The company aims to address the degradation of toxic cellular components, which is a key factor in various neurodegenerative conditions, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. By leveraging an understanding of critical neural pathways, Caraway Therapeutics seeks to discover and develop novel small molecules that can restore cellular balance and improve lysosomal function. Founded in 2018 and initially known as Rheostat Therapeutics, Inc., the company rebranded in 2019 to reflect its commitment to finding effective therapies for patients affected by these debilitating diseases.

Ribometrix, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. The company specializes in discovering and developing small molecule drugs that target functional three-dimensional RNA structures, aiming to address various human diseases. Ribometrix employs advanced techniques in RNA structural analysis, utilizing proprietary methods and state-of-the-art tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to identify novel small molecules that can inhibit the production of disease-associated proteins. By focusing on RNA biology, Ribometrix seeks to lead a new paradigm in small molecule therapeutics, enhancing the understanding and modulation of RNA's role in disease mechanisms.

Evelo Biosciences, Inc., established in 2015, is a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It specializes in the discovery and development of a novel class of medicines known as monoclonal microbials, which are orally delivered and designed to modulate systemic immunology and biology by interacting with human cells in the gut. Evelo's pipeline includes EDP1815, currently in a Phase 1b clinical trial for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and EDP1503, in a Phase 1/2 study for various cancer types, including colorectal, triple-negative breast, and melanoma. The company aims to apply this innovative approach across a broad range of diseases, including autoimmune, immunoinflammatory, metabolic, neurological, neuroinflammatory conditions, and cancer.

Cerevance LLC is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a branch in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cerevance utilizes its NETSseq platform to profile specific brain cell types, including neurons and glial cells, within mature human brain tissue. By leveraging a substantial repository of over 15,000 human brain samples, the company generates extensive expression and epigenetic data, guiding the identification of promising therapeutic targets. This approach aims to address the early onset of central nervous system diseases by revealing critical transcriptional and epigenetic differences within affected brain regions.

Ribometrix, Inc. is a biotechnology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. The company specializes in discovering and developing small molecule drugs that target functional three-dimensional RNA structures, aiming to address various human diseases. Ribometrix employs advanced techniques in RNA structural analysis, utilizing proprietary methods and state-of-the-art tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to identify novel small molecules that can inhibit the production of disease-associated proteins. By focusing on RNA biology, Ribometrix seeks to lead a new paradigm in small molecule therapeutics, enhancing the understanding and modulation of RNA's role in disease mechanisms.

Mitoconix Bio Ltd is a biotechnology company established in 2016 and headquartered in Jerusalem, Israel, focused on developing innovative therapies aimed at enhancing mitochondrial health to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The company employs a disease-modifying approach that targets the functions of mitochondria, which are essential for generating ATP, regulating calcium, and maintaining cellular balance. Mitochondria play a crucial role in neuron function, undergoing constant changes in structure through processes known as fission and fusion. Disruptions in these processes can lead to reduced energy production and increased oxidative stress, contributing to cellular dysfunction and death. Mitoconix's lead drug is a first-in-class inhibitor designed to counteract pathological mitochondrial fragmentation and has shown promising efficacy in preclinical models of Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as beneficial effects in patient-derived cells associated with these conditions and Alzheimer's disease.

Cerevance LLC is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative therapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with a branch in Cambridge, United Kingdom, Cerevance utilizes its NETSseq platform to profile specific brain cell types, including neurons and glial cells, within mature human brain tissue. By leveraging a substantial repository of over 15,000 human brain samples, the company generates extensive expression and epigenetic data, guiding the identification of promising therapeutic targets. This approach aims to address the early onset of central nervous system diseases by revealing critical transcriptional and epigenetic differences within affected brain regions.

Autifony Therapeutics Limited is a biotechnology company based in London, United Kingdom, established in 2011. The company specializes in developing innovative medicines aimed at treating hearing disorders, including hearing loss and tinnitus. In addition to its focus on auditory conditions, Autifony is also involved in drug discovery for central nervous system disorders, addressing challenges related to conditions such as schizophrenia, fragile X syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease. By leveraging its platform, the company seeks to alleviate symptoms associated with these disorders and meet the unmet medical needs of patients.

Gen2 Neuroscience develops therapeutics for the treatment of dementia targeting abnormal forms of the essential cellular protein tau.

Alector, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company utilizes advanced antibody technology and insights from neuroimmunology and human genetics to create innovative treatments. Alector’s pipeline includes several candidates, such as AL001, which is undergoing phase II clinical trials for frontotemporal dementia, and AL101, currently in phase I trials for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Additionally, AL002 and AL003 are in phase 1b trials for Alzheimer’s disease. The company is actively engaged in research and development, with a total of ten programs at various stages. Alector has formed a strategic collaboration with Adimab, LLC to enhance its antibody research and development capabilities, aiming to efficiently generate and validate antibody drugs that target key disease-related mechanisms.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Nordic is the largest consulting practice specializing in Epic software, providing electronic health record (EHR) consulting services to healthcare organizations. Founded in 2010, the company has established itself as an industry leader, consistently earning the top ranking by KLAS for Epic Implementation Support and Staffing since the report's inception in 2012. In the latest Best in KLAS Report, Nordic was recognized as the Category Leader in the "Other Implementation" category, which encompasses services related to revenue cycle, integration, lab, and reporting. With a client base exceeding 125 organizations across 40 states, Nordic collaborates with over a third of Epic's clientele, demonstrating its significant impact and expertise in the healthcare technology sector.

Therini Bio is a biotechnology company focused on developing fibrin-targeting therapies aimed at treating inflammatory neurological and retinal diseases. The company leverages groundbreaking research from the Akassoglou lab at Gladstone/UCSF, which identifies fibrin as a crucial factor in driving chronic innate immune activation associated with various diseases. By creating therapeutics that address neuroinflammation and vascular dysfunction, Therini Bio aims to provide potential treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients facing these challenging health issues.