SMER18 is primarily recognized for its role in biomedical research, particularly in the study of autophagy, a cellular process involved in the degradation and recycling of damaged or unnecessary cellular components. It has been investigated as a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, where impaired autophagy contributes to disease progression. SMER18 has shown promise in enhancing autophagy, thereby promoting the clearance of toxic protein aggregates associated with these conditions. Additionally, its potential applications extend to cancer research, where modulating autophagy could influence tumor cell survival and response to treatment. Further studies are ongoing to explore its efficacy and safety in these therapeutic contexts.