Xinmin Xie

AfaSci, a San Francisco Bay Area biotech commits to enhance healthcare by conducting R&D in both Therapeutics and Biotechnology. AfaSci conducts drug discovery of non-addictive analgesics, antiepileptics, and cognitive enhancers with novel mechanisms of actions. AfaSci took advantage of our proprietary enabling technology "SmartCage" to accelerate our drug discovery. Our modular devices for rodent behavioral tests and higher-throughput in vivo drug screening are available for research community. Our publications can be viewed in my Bibliography link (https://tinyurl.com/XieXSbiblio)

Collaborations with Dr. Jay Pasricha on transforming growth factor in pancreatic pain, with Dr. Dave Yeomans on development of CGRP antagonists to treat neuroinflammation, with Dr. Rona Giffard on hypocretin’s protective effects against neuroinflammation in stroke, with Dr. Dave Clark on the role of the extracellular matrix in pain, and with Dr. Wyss-Coray on studying the effects of parabiosis and human plasma on neuroregeneration.

Established the HTS laboratory, and directed HTS assay development and validation using electrophysiology. Awarded three NIH Roadmap II grants and an joint R21 grant to conduct preclinical drug discovery focused on T-type Cav3 channels, K-ATP channels and Long-train fatty acid transporters. Collaborative research with Dr. Thomas Kilduff on hypocretin and Dr. Lawrence Toll on nociceptin (N/OFQ).

Established electrophysiological and Flexstation cell-based assays, and led advanced CNS phenotypic analysis and neurobehavioral assessment of gene-knockout mice. Coordinated a drug discovery program on obesity-diabetes.

Established and directed the electrophysiological lab. Contributed to the ion channel drug discovery in the pain therapeutic area.

Established and led the electrophysiology group, contributing to CNS ion channel drug discovery and preclinical development, especially 4030W92 (for neuropathic pain, Phase II), BW534U87 (for refractory epilepsy, Phase I) and GW273293X (for bipolar disorder, Phase I). Proposed and initiated T-type Ca channel blocker, KCNQ activator, and SK1 channel activator research leading to early drug discovery.

My studies on lamotrigine (Lamictal®, FDA approved for epilepsy and bipolar disorder) and Sipatrigine (619C89, for stroke, Phase II) illustrated the mechanism of action, and participated in CNS drug discovery.

I undertook a Research Assistant job and also studied for a PhD under the guidance of Prof. Trevor Smart (now University College London). Here I made my first significant scientific discovery characterizing the physiological role of endogenous zinc in modulating synaptic transmission, leading to publication in Nature. I also found that γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) selectively activates GABAB receptors, which is now recognized as the mechanism underlying GHB action and efficacy in narcolepsy and other sleep disorders.