John L. Gainer

[3] The lead compound of this class is trans sodium crocetinate (TSC)[4] which Gainer invented while a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Virginia.

[5] While at the University of Virginia, Gainer invented TSC by modifying certain natural products, including saffron, resulting in the creation of a novel single trans isomer carotenoid salt.

[4] Using animal models, he then investigated the activity of TSC, exploring his theory that the drug would increase the transfer of oxygen through blood plasma into hypoxic tissues.

[6] From his work with animal models, Gainer also predicted that TSC held promise for the treatment of cancer, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and other diseases associated with hypoxia and ischemia (a lack of oxygen delivery to tissues).

[3] The Virginia Healthcare Innovators "Medical Product or Device" award went to Gainer and Diffusion Pharmaceuticals in 2012, honoring his and the company's work on TSC.