A new treatment for an overactive stress response system
Official title: Novel therapeutic for HPA hyperactivity
Funded at Stress Therapeutics, INC. · NIH-11105954 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a new type of medicine to help balance the body's stress response system, which can become overactive in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stress Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2019 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $716,742 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AA027971-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105954 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is currently in the early development stages and is not yet recruiting patients, but it is ultimately intended for individuals experiencing an overactive HPA axis, such as those with Alzheimer's disease dementia or alcohol use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not linked to an overactive HPA axis or who do not have Alzheimer's disease dementia or alcohol use disorder may not directly benefit from this specific therapeutic approach.
What this research studies
Our bodies have a natural stress response system, called the HPA axis, which helps us cope with challenges. Sometimes, this system can become overactive, leading to higher levels of stress hormones and contributing to various health issues. Current medications to manage this overactivity are not always ideal, and past attempts to develop new treatments have faced challenges. This project aims to create a completely new biologic medicine designed to gently bring the HPA axis back into balance. We are working to refine this new medicine and prepare it for future testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new medicine could offer a more effective way to manage the overactive stress response seen in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and alcohol use disorder, potentially improving patient well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous attempts to modulate the HPA axis have shown some promise but also significant limitations, indicating a need for novel approaches like the one being developed here.
Where this research is happening
-
Stress Therapeutics, INC.
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lloyd, Linda S — Stress Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Lloyd, Linda S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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New treatment approach to calm the stress system in alcohol use disorder
A new, first‑in‑class medicine aims to gently calm the body’s stress system to help people with alcohol use disorder drink less and avoid relapse.
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Developing a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease by targeting stress response mechanisms
This study is working on a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease that aims to calm down a part of the brain that gets too active and can worsen the condition, hoping to offer a safe and effective option for managing the disease over time.
-
New treatment for alcohol use disorder targeting stress response
This study is working on a new medication designed to help people with alcohol use disorder by calming down a part of the brain that can cause cravings and relapses, and it will test how well and safely this treatment works.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.