Organization Description
Focal Biosciences seeks to exploit new discoveries in mechanobiology to develop a novel approach to cellular reprogramming termed CFC (Chromatin Fingerprint for Cell state).
In 2018, scientific founder GV Shivashankar reported that when he grew fibroblasts (deep-layer skin cells) on micropatterned surfaces, placed them under mechanical force, and restricted their room to grow, it induced an orchestrated sequence of changes in the cells’ nuclei and chromatin with each cell division. As a result, the cells progressively lost their differentiated mesenchymal state and reverted to a multipotent stem cell-like state, without the need for reprogramming factors. He theorizes that this may reflect the in vivo conditions of cells that seem to reprogram as part of the response to injury.
Focal appears to be using this discovery as a model system for testing small-molecule in vivo reprogramming drugs. They seem to claim that their chromatin-centered approach can not only reprogram cells into a broadly younger state, but reverse specific disease processes.
Their first planned indication is for fibrotic diseases, in which fibroblasts reprogram into myofibroblasts, which causes their extracellular matrix proteins to stiffen. If they can reprogram these myofibroblasts back into fibroblasts in the injured tissue, the scar might resolve and the tissue return to normal.
