Craig Lindsley, Executive Director of the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (WCNDD) and Christopher James, CEO and Founder of Kifa Therapeutics, have partnered to develop innovative treatments for Parkinson’s disease. Under the guidance of Lindsley, Kifa’s Scientific Founder, the collaboration focuses on advancing highly selective CNS-kinase inhibitors.
Lindsley says, “Kifa is advancing the best-in-class mutant-selective LRRK2 kinase inhibitors that will provide the optimal therapeutic window for efficacy and safety. Not only will Kifa be addressing symptoms, but the approach can be both L-DOPA sparing and disease modifying.”
The partnership began when Christopher James approached Vanderbilt’s Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization (CTTC) with an interest in licensing novel therapies for neurological conditions through his startup, Kifa Therapeutics.
After graduating from Yale School of Medicine, Dr. James trained in neurosurgery and brings two decades of experience split between Wall Street as a senior biotech equity research analyst and operating roles in biotechnology. Through the CTTC process, he recognized the potential to partner with Dr. Craig Lindsley and the Warren Center’s LRRK2 inhibitors for Parkinson’s disease—a program supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation through the LITE Consortium.
Kifa Therapeutics is actively engaged within Tennessee's biotech ecosystem, participating in incubators and pitch events such as LaunchTN's Scipreneur Challenge and the LSTCON Pitch Competition, where they secured first place. In response to investor feedback and aligning with its mission, Kifa diversified its approach to Parkinson’s treatment, evolving into a platform developing kinase inhibitors for neurological diseases. Through an Exclusive Option Agreement with Vanderbilt University, the team expanded its focus to include ROCK2 inhibitors to address wider implications of Parkinson's such as mitochondrial dysfunction.
As the team nears its $7.5 million seed round goal, they are poised to revolutionize Parkinson’s treatment by progressing from symptomatic relief to disease modification. Moreover, Kifa is preparing for upcoming investor gatherings like the 2026 Southeast Venture Showcase and the annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference.
Kifa Therapeutics and Vanderbilt’s partnership exemplify how university-startup partnerships can help translate research into viable commercial therapies.