Luminomics Inc is a drug discovery firm creating degenerative disease models in Zebrafish to allow identification of the molecular pathways of particular cells and tissue types that stimulate cell-type specific regeneration in vertebrates. The firm has developed an inducible-targeted cellular ablation system, ZAP, which is used to create degenerative disease models in transgenic Zebrafish and allow informed drug screens that dramatically decrease the time and cost of drug discovery. Understanding these genetic pathways, which are employed in the regeneration of discrete cell types, will be directly applicable to the field of stem cell therapeutics. Using the Zebrafish model, the firm focuses on nuerodegenerative diseases such as Parkinsonâs and Alzheimerâs disease; however, the platform is applicable to any degenerative disease or condition. These models are then used for genetic and pharmacological screens in an effort to elucidate biochemical pathways, which stimulate cell-type specific regeneration in vertebrate
