PKD Innovation and Resource Development Core

University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary: PKD Innovation and Resource Development Core (PIRDC) The PKD research field is at an inflection point. New technologies such as multidisciplinary omics, emerging imaging techniques and antibody technology, and artificial intelligence based rational drug design are poised to accelerate both our biological understanding of the role that polycystin proteins play in kidney morphogenesis but also the discovery of new therapeutic approaches to slow or prevent cystogenesis. The main objective of the Maryland PKD Innovation and Resource Development Core (PIRDC) is to bring together existing PKD expertise at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University with a team of world-class technological experts. We propose a pipeline of innovation centered around an “Innovation Hub” of technical experts from outside the PKD realm that will work alongside our internal PKD experts to evaluate new resource development ideas, and provide fresh perspectives on persistent obstacles. We have recruited experts that will aid in the advancement in broad areas of need identified by the Spring 2024 PKD RRC retreat: understanding the cell biology of the polycystins, the mechanisms of cystogenesis, artificial intelligence based therapeutic discovery, omics integration and information distribution, and PKD community and patient engagement. Here we propose an Innovation Pipeline that will use a rational approach to manage the flow of new ideas from formulation to prioritization and culminating in implementation, validation and distribution. Our Aims mirror the steps of our proposed Innovation Pipeline. Aim 1 will be Idea generation, the critical first step in the pipeline. We will solicit proposals from the 3 primary stakeholder groups. Aim 2, will be to establish the Innovation Hub, a team of external experts will provide guidance and evaluate and prioritize ideas based on technical feasibility and potential impact. The process prioritization will be Aim 3. The PIRDC will prioritize ideas for development through a structured, community-centric process utilizing a quantitative ranking tool. Aim 4 will be to create a detailed development plan that will be presented to the PKD RRC steering committee to aid in the investment decision. Aim 5 will be the collaborative resource development process, a synergy between relevant outside technical expertise and PKD RRC cores to work with the PIRDC to rapidly create new impactful PKD resources. Finally, Aim 6 will be to validate and distribute new resources. In summary, the Maryland PIRDC is wellpositioned to leverage our expertise in PKD science, alongside the exceptional talent of leading investigators at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, to support PKD RRC initiatives to drive innovation in PKD.