Friday, March 13, 2026 3/13/2026

A Novel Method to Enhance Drug Delivery to the Brain

Award Number: R01AG082273
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2029

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

A Novel Method to Enhance Drug Delivery to the Brain - PROJECT SUMMARY Delivering molecules across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a major challenge in treating mental disorders and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Many therapeutic agents that have the potential to treat these disorders have difficulty entering the brain due to the presence of the BBB. In this project, we are responding to the NIH PAR-22-031 that calls for development of delivery systems that can target drugs to the brain. We have recently developed BBB modulators (BBBMs) that significantly increase in vivo brain delivery of small-to-large drug molecules including therapeutic peptides and proteins. Recently, BBBMs (i.e., HAVN1 and DWI peptides) have been shown to selectively modulate the BBB over the peripheral vasculatures in the in vitro and in vivo systems. Our hypothesis is that these BBBMs enhance brain delivery of therapeutic proteins by modulating cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion in the paracellular pathway of the BBB. The overall goal of this project is aimed at developing and optimizing the next generation of BBBMs as a novel and non-invasive delivery system to target drugs to the brain. BBBMs transiently increase the porosity of the BBB paracellular pathways to allow drugs to enter the brain from the bloodstream. To accomplish the overall goal, we will pursue the following Specific Aims. First, a combination of virtual screening and 3D in vitro models of the BBB vs. peripheral vasculatures will be used to optimize modulatory activity and selectivity of the next generation of BBBMs from VE-cadherin. Second, DMPK profiles, toxicity, and selectivity of BBBMs will be evaluated using animal models. Toxicity of BBBMs in various organs will be determined. Third, the biological effects of BBBMs-facilitated brain delivery of FL-BDNF and BDNF peptides will be evaluated in mouse models of both sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). The biological effects of FL-BDNF and BDNF peptides in the brain will be assessed by determining TrkB signaling, synaptic activity, AD neuropathology, and learning and memory. If successful, this project will have impacts on (a) reversing neurodegeneration, (b) improving diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases and injuries, (c) expanding our understanding of how the brain works at both the cellular and molecular levels, and (d) designing new tools for monitoring brain function in vivo.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $452,491 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC	2385 IRVING HILL RD	LAWRENCE	KS	66045	DOUGLAS	USA	Aging Research	000	3	3/5/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$452,491
														Subtotal = $452,491

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $443,442 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC	2385 IRVING HILL RD	LAWRENCE	KS	66045	DOUGLAS	USA	Aging Research	001	2	8/29/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$36,199
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC	2385 IRVING HILL RD	LAWRENCE	KS	66045	DOUGLAS	USA	Aging Research	000	2	3/20/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$407,243
														Subtotal = $443,442

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $487,741 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CENTER FOR RESEARCH INC	2385 IRVING HILL RD	LAWRENCE	KS	66045	DOUGLAS	USA	Aging Research	000	1	4/24/2024	NEW	$487,741
														Subtotal = $487,741

Grand Total All Awards = $1,383,674

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

A Novel Method to Enhance Drug Delivery to the Brain

Award Number: R01AG082273

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 02/28/2029

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer