A new treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning

Antidote for inhaled CO poisoning based on mutationally engineered neuroglobin

NIH-funded research University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11124047

This project is developing a fast-acting antidote to help people who have been poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Baltimore, United States)
Project IDNIH-11124047 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a serious health concern, and current treatments like oxygen therapy often face delays and don't always prevent long-term brain damage. Our team is working on a new, fast-acting antidote that can be given intravenously right away to quickly remove carbon monoxide from the body. This special protein, called neuroglobin, has been engineered to bind CO much more strongly than what's naturally in our blood. Early results in animal models show this antidote can rapidly clear CO, restore vital functions, and significantly improve survival. We hope this will become a readily available treatment to protect people from the harmful effects of CO poisoning.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research is relevant for anyone who has been exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Not a fit: Patients who have not been exposed to carbon monoxide would not directly benefit from this specific antidote.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this antidote could provide a rapid, life-saving treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, reducing deaths and long-term brain damage.

How similar studies have performed: This approach uses a newly engineered protein, showing promising early results in animal models, and represents a novel strategy for treating carbon monoxide poisoning.

Where this research is happening

Baltimore, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired brain injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.