A new xenon treatment to protect the brain during stroke
A Novel Xenon Delivery Platform for Cerebroprotection During Stroke
This project develops a xenon-containing medicine designed to protect the brain soon after an ischemic stroke for people with a blocked brain artery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Zymo Research Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177050 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work is building a xenon-loaded liposome treatment that could be given intermittently after an acute ischemic stroke to limit brain damage and give more time for clot-busting care. The team is testing dose ranges and the maximum effective dose in clinically relevant animal stroke models and studying biological effects that could help long-term recovery. They are also completing safety, manufacturing, and IND-enabling studies with industry and academic partners to prepare for FDA pre-IND discussion and eventual human trials. The project follows earlier Phase I/II STTR work and focuses on practical delivery methods to make xenon neuroprotection usable in real-world stroke care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Future trials would likely enroll people who have recently experienced an acute ischemic stroke, especially those eligible for reperfusion therapies.
Not a fit: People with hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes, long-standing chronic brain injury, or medical contraindications to acute interventions would likely not benefit from this acute treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce brain injury after stroke and extend the time window for treatments like tPA or thrombectomy.
How similar studies have performed: Early Phase I/II SBIR/STTR work and preclinical studies have shown promise for xenon neuroprotection, but clear human clinical benefit has not yet been established.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- Zymo Research Corporation — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Booher, Keith — Zymo Research Corporation
- Study coordinator: Booher, Keith
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 below.