Unravel Biosciences and The SCN2A Foundation Announce Drug Discovery Collaboration

The partnership aims to advance preclinical research for SCN2A-related disorders caused by loss-of-function mutations.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 8:07am

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The SCN2A Foundation and Unravel Biosciences, an AI-enabled therapeutics company, have announced a research collaboration to advance preclinical research for SCN2A-related disorders caused by loss-of-function mutations. The teams will evaluate therapeutic approaches in mutation-relevant laboratory models, with a focus on understanding how loss-of-function SCN2A protein responds at the RNA and protein level.

Why it matters

SCN2A is a critical gene for normal brain signaling and one of the largest genetic causes of autism and epilepsy. Certain genetic changes can result in the body producing too little working SCN2A protein, causing serious neurological symptoms. This collaboration aims to identify strategies that may increase functional SCN2A protein in the brain.

The details

Under the collaboration, the teams will evaluate therapeutic approaches in mutation-relevant laboratory models, with an emphasis on understanding how loss-of-function SCN2A protein responds at the RNA and protein level, influenced by other genetic and environmental factors specific to each patient. The work is intended to inform future therapeutic development.

  • The collaboration was announced on January 28, 2026.

The players

Unravel Biosciences

An AI-enabled therapeutics company established to advance drugs for complex diseases.

The SCN2A Foundation

A foundation focused on accelerating targeted research and treatment for SCN2A-related disorders.

Jason Curry

Co-Founder of the SCN2A Foundation.

Richard Novak

CEO and Co-Founder of Unravel Biosciences.

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What they’re saying

“Our focus is on SCN2A mutations where the fundamental issue is a lack of functional protein. By partnering with Unravel Biosciences, we are taking a disciplined, mechanism-driven approach to identify strategies that may increase functional SCN2A protein in the brain.”

— Jason Curry, Co-Founder of the SCN2A Foundation

“We are excited to collaborate on a program that is clearly defined by the complex patient biology rather than diagnosis alone. Precision matters in rare diseases where each patient with a shared diagnosis may have quite different therapeutic responses; this effort reflects a thoughtful approach to matching therapies to the right mutation mechanisms for each patient using our Living Molecular Twin approach.”

— Richard Novak, CEO and Co-Founder of Unravel Biosciences

What’s next

The teams will continue to evaluate therapeutic approaches in mutation-relevant laboratory models, with the goal of informing future therapeutic development for SCN2A-related disorders.

The takeaway

This collaboration between the SCN2A Foundation and Unravel Biosciences represents a targeted, mechanism-driven approach to addressing the underlying biological issues caused by loss-of-function SCN2A mutations, which are a significant driver of autism and epilepsy.