BME Seminar Series: Dr. Amara Greer-Short, Tenaya Therapeutics

*This event will be 100% virtual*

Amara Greer-Short, PhD
Scientist II
In-Vivo Pharmacology and Toxicology
Tenaya Therapeutics

Abstract:

The most prevalent genetic heart disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), affecting approximately 14 million people worldwide. MYBPC3, or Myosin Binding Protein C3, mutations are the most common genetic causes of HCM accounting for approximately 30-40% of all HCM mutations and often result in haploinsufficiency. The lack of MYBPC3 protein at the sarcomere dysregulates the contractile function of myosin, and is linked with hypercontractility. Restoring the expression of MYBPC3 protein in these patients is an obvious path to treatment. TN-201, our engineered AAV vector, is designed to restore functional MYBPC3 to normal levels in cardiomyocytes. We have demonstrated the efficacy of TN-201 in a relevant murine model of disease, in which we were able to reverse cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy. Furthermore, we have also demonstrated the tolerability of our product in mice. Importantly, our product has demonstrated its durability in that it has continued to have a stable benefit one year post injection.

Bio:

Dr. Amara Greer-Short received her BS in bioengineering at Washington State University and then went on to complete her PhD in biomedical engineering with a focus on cardiac electrophysiology in Dr. Steven Poelzing’s lab.  She then went on to do her post-doc at Ohio State University in Dr. Thomas Hund’s lab for three years studying the underlying mechanisms that lead to heart failure and atrial fibrillation. Currently she is a scientist at Tenaya Therapeutics where she evaluates the safety and efficacy of potential therapeutics for heart failure in preclinical models.