8. Commitments and Contingencies Office Space Lease Commitment The Company leases office and laboratory facilities in Charlottesville, Virginia. Rent expense related to the Company's operating lease for both the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 was approximately $0.1 million. Future minimum rental payments under the Company's non-cancelable operating lease at December 31, 2018 were as follows: Rental Commitments 2019 $ 114,409 2020 116,464 2021 118,519 2022 39,735 Total $ 389,127 Arrangements with Clinical Research Organization The Company has various agreements with contract research organizations (CROs) to provide clinical trial services for individual studies and projects by executing individual work orders governed by Master Service Arrangements (MSAs). The MSAs and associated work orders are designed such that quarterly payments are to be made in advance of the work to be performed. The Company recognized research and development expenses related to these MSAs of $1.6 million and $1.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, there was $0.8 million of prepaid research and development costs that are estimated to be recognized during fiscal 2019. Legal Proceedings On August 7, 2014, a complaint was filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California by Paul Feller, the Companys former Chief Executive Officer under the caption Paul Feller v. RestorGenex Corporation, Pro Sports &amp; Entertainment, Inc., ProElite, Inc. and Stratus Media Group, GmbH (Case No. BC553996 ). The complaint asserts various causes of action, including, among other things, promissory fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of employment agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violations of the California Labor Code and common counts. The plaintiff is seeking, among other things, compensatory damages in an undetermined amount, punitive damages, accrued interest and an award of attorneys fees and costs. On December 30, 2014, the Company filed a petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On April 1, 2015, the plaintiff filed a petition in opposition to the Companys petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. After a hearing for the petition and motion on April 14, 2015, the Court granted the Companys petition to compel arbitration and a motion to stay the action. On January 8, 2016, the plaintiff filed an arbitration demand with the American Arbitration Association. On November 19, 2018 at an Order to Show Cause Re Dismissal Hearing, the Court found sufficient grounds not to dismiss the case, and an arbitration hearing has been scheduled for November 2019. The Company believes this matter is without merit and intends to defend the arbitration vigorously. Because this matter is in an early stage, the Company is unable to predict its outcome and the possible loss or range of loss, if any, associated with its resolution or any potential effect the matter may have on the Companys financial position. Depending on the outcome or resolution of this matter, it could have a material effect on the Companys financial position.