CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yumanity Therapeutics, a company focused on transforming drug discovery for diseases caused by protein misfolding, today announced a discovery collaboration with the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating cures for major diseases through stem cell research. The immediate aim of the partnership is to generate induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines for use in support of Yumanity Therapeutics’ discovery efforts focused on new medicines for neurodegenerativediseases.

Induced pluripotent stem cells are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed and represent an important source of cells that could be used to study the fundamental biology of complex diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Since iPSCs are renewable, they are an incredibly useful source of human cells and an increasingly important tool in drug discovery and disease modeling. The New York Stem Cell Foundation’s automated technology, the NYSCF Global Stem Cell Array™, systematically and consistently produces high-quality iPSCs at a scale that enables discovery.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the NYSCF Research Institute, a world leader in iPSC technology,” said Tony Coles, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Yumanity Therapeutics. “The ability to leverage their state-of-the-art capabilities to generate new stem cell lines at scale provides an important step forward in accelerating Yumanity’s drug discovery efforts.”

“We are excited to partner with Yumanity Therapeutics’ important work in the field of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Susan L. Solomon, co-founder and chief executive officer of NYSCF. “This relationship creates an opportunity to accelerate the kind of game-changing innovation that has always been a priority to us.”

About Yumanity Therapeutics

Yumanity Therapeutics is transforming drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. Formed in 2014 by renowned biotech industry leader, Tony Coles, M.D., and protein folding science pioneer, Susan Lindquist, Ph.D., the company is initially focused on discovering disease-modifying therapies for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Leveraging its three integrated platforms, Yumanity’s innovative new approach to drug discovery and development concentrates on reversing the cellular phenotypes and disease pathologies caused by protein misfolding. For more information, please visit yumanity.com.

About The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute is an independent organization accelerating cures and better treatments for patients through stem cell research. The NYSCF Research Institute employs over 45 researchers in New York, and is an acknowledged world leader in stem cell research and in developing pioneering stem cell technologies, including the NYSCF Global Stem Cell ArrayTM. Additionally, NYSCF supports over 85 researchers at other leading institutions worldwide through its Innovator Programs, including the NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellowships and the NYSCF – Robertson Investigator Awards. NYSCF focuses on translational research in a model designed to overcome the barriers that slow discovery and replaces silos with collaboration. For more information, visit www.nyscf.org