Kira Astakhova is an associate professor at the Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark. She received multiple awards and honour fellowships including Jorck research award, Lundbeck research fellow, Marie Curie Early Stage Training and Carlsberg Foundation Elite Award. She is a co-author of 50 scientific articles and 5 approved patents and patent applications. Current research by her and her group is focused on the synthesis and studies of advanced biomolecular analogues and nanomaterials. This includes development of new design, synthetic strategies and assays which take advantage of the functionalized nucleic acids, peptides, proteins and lipids. In doing this we actively integrate methods of computational chemistry, organic synthesis and biomedicine.

This project aims for the personalized management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with a novel therapeutic supported by an effective diagnostic approach. Our goal is to fulfil unmet needs in managing the disease as currently there is no proposed solution. Our mission is to improve healthcare in society using the most recent developments in chemistry, synthetic biology and medicine. RA is a condition when the immune system loses specificity, and instead of destroying intruders of the body it attacks the body’s own cells. As much as 1% of the world population is affected by RA which leads to pain and physical disability for most patients. Despite over four decades of research, neither specific diagnostic nor effective treatment is available. We propose a new therapeutic linked with an earlier diagnostic technique. The new technology applies rationally designed synthetic antigens and their nanoparticles for the specific diagnostics and treatment of RA. The technology has a potential to dramatically improve the life quality of RA patients while reducing the disease management costs in the healthcare system. We believe that this mission will be accompanied by building a high revenue business that will take a market share estimated in billions of USD. The therapy will specifically bind and clear the inflammatory autoantibodies and cells that cause the disease. At the molecular level, it provides the treatment of inflammation causing autoantibodies and prevents their cytotoxic activity. At the cellular level, the RA associated osteoclasts are specifically targeted. The diagnostic method offers an earlier diagnostic which means less permanent disability for the patient. The diagnostic development is complete, and it is already benchmarked. The team is composed of a PI Kira Astakhova (chemistry, biomedicine), Postdoc Dr. Tiago Silva (pharmacy), Researcher Sangita Khatri (chemistry), and a project manager Lisa-Marie Jaunet (business development).