Your donations will directly support a PhD student's research into a molecule called Berbamine, a natural product isolated from the Berberis plant. In a strategic collaboration with City of Hope National Medical Center, our project focuses on developing a new approach to treat aggressive lymphomas using this unique molecule.
The Discovery
Our preliminary data is remarkable: Berbamine effectively suppresses lymphoma progression while leaving healthy cells untouched. It acts as a "magic bullet" candidate, but the major catch is that there is no known way to create this molecule in a laboratory.
The UCR Advantage
Our lab at UC Riverside has developed the only method in the world to build this complex molecule from scratch in a practical manner. A dedicated PhD student has already invested four years of intensive research into cracking the code, developing the new chemical methodology and successfully constructing nearly half of the molecule's intricate structure.
The Mission
We cannot rely on over-harvesting wild plants and risking their extinction. Our mission is to complete the laboratory synthesis of Berbamine as soon as possible. By doing so, we will:
1. Ensure a sustainable, scalably supply of the new drug candidate for clinical progression.
2. Engineer new derivatives with even greater potency than the natural version.
3. Protect the environment by eliminating the need for mass plant cultivation.
Your support helps us fund the final phase of synthesis to complete this anti-cancer compound, streamlining the clinical progression and bringing us one step closer to a sustainable, life-saving treatment for patients.
