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The researchers have developed a group of compounds useful in treating a wide variety of diseases, many of which are chronic and painful for those afflicted. These compounds, known as adenosine A3 receptor agonists, are small molecules that bind to adenosine A3 receptor and induce their biological activity. The adenosine A3 receptors are embedded in cell surfaces and are important for communicating the need for a cell to initiate activity in response to adenosine detected outside the cell. Adenosine is important in the body’s response to chronic or acute tissue stress or cell damage.

Medical research to combat disease is now a global effort and one that now requires an international technology transfer effort to see that new discoveries from research are effectively developed and commercialized to reach patients. While the United States in general, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in particular, have long led the way in effective biomedical technology transfer, such is not the case with new or younger transfer programs at research institutions outside the US, especially those in emerging and middle-income countries.