Jonathan CorcoranView profile
Professor
Professor Jonathan Corcoran is a faculty member at King's College London, specifically in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) as a Professor of Molecular Neurobiology. His research focuses on discovering drugs for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, motoneuron disease, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury (SCI), and neuropathic pain. His work centers on retinoic acid (RA) signaling pathways, particularly the retinoic acid receptors (RARs alpha, beta, gamma), with a translational focus on developing RARβ agonists for clinical applications. Key achievements include the development of the orally available RARβ drug KCL 286, which is in Phase II clinical trials for SCI. His research spans drug design, neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and neuroinflammation modulation. He leads major projects funded by organizations such as the Wellcome Trust, MRC, and NIHR, including a Phase IIA trial for spinal cord injury treatment. His academic roles include affiliations with the Wolfson Sensory, Pain and Regeneration Centre and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). He has supervised multiple students and contributed to over 34 peer-reviewed publications, with a focus on mechanisms of neural repair, retinoic acid signaling, and drug efficacy in CNS disorders. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and innovation in medicine. Key collaborations include work on exosome-mediated signaling, mitochondrial dynamics, and the role of RARβ in modulating PTEN activity for spinal cord regeneration. His research bridges basic science and clinical translation, aiming to address unmet medical needs in neurodegenerative and traumatic CNS conditions.









