By Laurel Lyle | Manager - Fundraising Programs
Despite progress in understanding the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, advancements in its diagnosis and treatment are limited. To address this key need, researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the University of Houston (UH) - Ananth Annapragada, Ph.D. and Jason Eriksen, Ph.D. - have been awarded a $150,000 grant from Cure Alzheimer's Fund to pursue innovative work.
The grant will allow UTHealth and UH researchers to accelerate use of nanotechnology and new imaging techniques to study the effects of certain compounds on Amyloid-Beta, a protein that is commonly linked to Alzheimer's disease. Most importantly the scientists will focus on the creation of new intravenous delivery mechanisms for compounds such as gamma secretase modulators which are believed to have the potential to protect against the development of the debilitating disease. The imaging agents will allow scientists to peek at the diseased area and the therapeutic agents allow them to treat it - thus the nickname "Peek and Treat."
If the drug delivery system proceeds to clinical trials and proves effective, it could provide enhanced imaging in patients using MRI at a resolution far exceeding current capabilities. It could also be used for the targeted delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents. The nanocarriers allow scientists to deliver a nearly unlimited variety of compounds to the brain. Since they can perform high-resolution imaging of Amyloid-Beta with this technology, they will be able to determine if a drug treatment effectively hits its target early on in the disease process.
This pioneering research is helping to better understand this devastating disease and could lead to better ways to reverse its effects and even find a cure. We are proud to support it.
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