Tuesday, February 17, 2026 2/17/2026

Developing controlled release immune complexes to treat multiple sclerosis

Award Number: F32AI172499
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2024

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Developing controlled release immune complexes to treat multiple sclerosis - In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly identifies “self”-molecules/antigens as foreign, resulting in an orchestrated attack of the body. In multiple sclerosis (MS), the immune system attack of the protective neuronal sheath – myelin - results in debilitating neurological impairment and poor quality of life. Current MS therapies are non-curative, require life-long compliance, and exhibit non-specific effects that increase patient susceptibility to infection. To circumvent MS treatment challenges, emerging therapies seek to direct myelin self-antigens (MOG) and immunomodulatory cues to redirect the immune response. Toll-like receptors, which detect pathogen-associated patterns on antigen presenting cells (APCs) are involved in MS. Recently, TLR9 antagonist, GpG has been shown to downregulate APC activation while promoting TREGS. Similarly, Rapamycin (Rapa), an immunosuppressant drug has garnered interest because it inhibits major pathways and promotes regulatory T cells (TREGS). Since coordination between the innate and adaptive immune system in MS drives disease, the proposed study will target these pathways simultaneously to promote antigen-specific immune tolerance in MS. We have previously developed self-assembled carriers built entirely from immune cues – termed immune polyelectrolyte multilayers (iPEMs) that enable combinatory delivery of multiple cues, controlled loading, and high cargo densities. iPEMs assembled using MOG and GpG reduce TLR9 signaling while promoting TREGS but show moderate efficacy in preclinical MS models. Since TREGS play a crucial role in moderating immune responses, the proposed work aims to load Rapa in the core of MOG/GpG iPEMs to enable co-delivery of MOG to induce antigen-specific immune responses, GpG to downregulate APC activity, and incorporate cross-links to control Rapa delivery to induce TREGS. In Aim 1, the hypothesis that cross-link density in MOG/GpG (Rapa) iPEMs is correlated to release intervals will be tested. This will be accomplished by generating a library of iPEMs from combinations of MOG, control antigen (ANT-CTRL), GpG, inactive control ODN (ODNCTRL), as well as Rapa with distinct cross-linking conditions to control release. In Aim 2, cross-linked iPEM release kinetics will be linked to APC activation and T cell polarization. In Aim 3, the efficacy of crosslinked iPEMs in preclinical MS models will be assessed to test the hypothesis that dual-targeting of innate and adaptive immunity is necessary to drive antigen-specific TREGS in MS. These studies will show that modulating both innate and adaptive immunity is necessary to generate robust antigen-specific responses in MS and will provide insight that informs the design of new therapies to treat MS and other autoimmune diseases. At the same time, new skills and techniques will be acquired throughout the course of the studies to propel the goal of the trainee to lead an academic research lab focused on developing immunomodulatory drug delivery systems after postdoctoral training.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$52,238 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BUILDING	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	4/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$45,702
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BUILDING	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	8/26/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$6,536
														Subtotal = -$52,238

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $78,892 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BUILDING	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	2	5/7/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$5,120
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BUILDING	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	2/29/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$73,772
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BLDG 7809 REGENTS DR	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	11/9/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $78,892

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $71,792 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BLDG 7809 REGENTS DR	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	003	1	2/14/2023	NEW	$1,990
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BLDG 7809 REGENTS DR	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	1	2/8/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BLDG 7809 REGENTS DR	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	1/9/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK	3112 LEE BLDG 7809 REGENTS DR	COLLEGE PARK	MD	20742	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	1/9/2023	NEW	$69,802
														Subtotal = $71,792

Grand Total All Awards = $98,446

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Developing controlled release immune complexes to treat multiple sclerosis

Award Number: F32AI172499

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/05/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2024

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