Carroll Campbell Alzheimer's Initiative

GGC is expected to receive funding in the upcoming South Carolina state budget for the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Alzheimer's Initiative. SC Governor Henry McMaster has requested the funding which is named in honor of former SC Governor Carroll Campbell who passed away with Alzheimer's disease in 2005. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and impacts more than six million Americans.

The proposed project is a collaboration between GGC; MitoSense, a research and development biotechnology company; and the US Veteran's Administration to assess a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease aimed at improving energy production in brain cells.

The brain requires very high amounts of energy for normal activity. This energy is produced by the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. Patients with Alzheimer's disease show dysfunction of the mitochondria, specifically in their brain cells, which leads to reduced energy production and is believed to be related to degeneration of those brain cells and disease progression.

MitoSense has developed a technology to replenish mitochondria through Mitochondria Organelle Transplantation (MOT™️). The processes places healthy mitochondria into cells with depleted or ineffective mitochondria. The goal is to improve the energy production within the cells leading to better cellular function, reduced symptoms, and slower progression of the disease.

"This is GGC's first significant involvement in Alzheimer's disease research," said Rich Steet, PhD, GGC's Director of Research who is working on the proposed project. "We are excited about the potential of this new technology and anticipate that it could be a significant advancement for patients with Alzheimer's disease, and might also benefit our pediatric patients who have rare disorders caused by mitochondrial dysfunction."