Venoms to drugs: characterizing the molecular interactions between venom peptides and ion channels with a view to rational drug design

传统的药物开发方法正处于危机状态，因为它生产的新药越来越少，成本越来越高。一种有希望的替代方案是利用毒肽丰富多样的化学成分。本项目旨在了解蛇毒肽实现其药理活性的机制。这一知识对于基于毒液的药物设计至关重要，这些药物用于治疗从神经系统疾病、中风、慢性疼痛和精神疾病在内的各种疾病。

The conventional approach to drug development is reaching a state of crisis as it is producing fewer new drugs at increasing cost. A promising alternative is to harness the rich and diverse chemistry of venom peptides. This project aims to understand the mechanism by which venom peptides achieve their pharmacological activity. This knowledge is essential for venom-based drug design for treating diseases ranging from nervous systems disorders, stroke, chronic pain and psychiatric illnesses.