Tim Springer

In 2014, Dr. Springer helped found a company, Morphic Rock Therapeutic, Inc. (“Company”), which was formed to develop small molecule antagonists of integrins based on newly defined chemotypes that block the integrin and binding site and have additional desired properties. The company will design new molecules, have them synthesized, and test their mode of antagonism, pharmacology, and in vivo therapeutic effects. Dr. Springer’s research in the subject grant includes determining crystal structures of integrin alphaV beta8. Although Dr. Springer’s research focus as described in the grants specific aims is distinct from the Company’s work, it does have the potential to indirectly benefit Company aims to design, synthesize, and optimize new molecules. This is because Dr. Springer will be improving methods for obtaining high resolution crystal structures of Atypical Integrin alphaV beta8. These methods may also be beneficial for determination of crystal structures with small molecules at MRT.