Rare diseases (RDs) are a global health-care problem with an estimated 400 to 700 million people affected worldwide. There are around 7000–10,000 rare diseases that have been identified. (Genetics in Medicine volume 23, pages 2194–2201 (2021))
400M to 700M
People Affected
7000 – 10,000
Rare Diseases Identified
What do we work on?
Short Tandem Repeat Rare Disease (STRRD) mechanisms illustrate the process by which pathogenic repeat expansions in DNA can lead to rare diseases.
The graphic shows how increasing lengths of short tandem repeats (such as CAG) in DNA can lead to disease.
Normal repeats are depicted in green.
As the repeats expand, they are shown in yellow and red, indicating increasing instability.
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Gene Transcription
The expanded repeats are transcribed into RNA.
The RNA produced from these expanded repeats can misfold, forming hairpin loops.
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Cellular Dysfunction
This misfolded RNA can aberrantly recruit proteins, leading to cellular dysfunction.
The misfolded RNA and abnormal protein interactions are key mechanisms in the onset of disease symptoms.
RNA Misfolding
Hairpin
Abberant Recruitment of Proteins
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Co-Founders
Prof. Edwin Chan
An expert neuroscientist and geneticist working on rare neurological disease research since 1999.
Dr. Maggie Leong
An experienced chemical biologist specializing in structure-based drug design.
Mr. Tony Wong
A seasoned financial leader with a global perspective, boasting over 20 years of experience in capital markets, investment banking, and asset management.
Dr. Aldrin Yim
An experienced neuroscientist and geneticist with a focus on cutting-edge genome sequencing technologies.
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Our Vision
Establish a best-in-class peptide biologic screening platform for STR rare diseases (STRRDs)
Co-develop first-in-class innovative peptide biologics for STRRDs with pharmaceutical companies
Develop comprehensive/ fast turn-around-time STRRDs diagnostic service in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Southeast Asian regions to facilitate early disease detection in the population
Establish best-in-class STRRD patient database and cell repository for in-house therapeutic development or in-part sell to other therapeutic/pharmaceutic companies