Research Projects

Voltage-gated proton channels (Hv₁) are found in the microglia of mammalian nervous systems and are linked to neuroinflammation. Persistent activation of these channels contributes to chronic neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Currently, no Hv₁ inhibitors with reasonable affinity and selectivity exist. To address this, researchers aim to identify new classes of potent and selective Hv₁ channel inhibitors using a novel fluorescent-based HTS methodology. Hit compounds will be characterized using patch clamp electrophysiology, and structure-functional studies will generate lead compounds. The binding sites of identified Hv₁ inhibitors will be deduced using molecular docking, mutagenesis experiments, and mathematical modelling. Successful completion of this work could lead to the development of Hv₁ channel inhibitors as potential therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.