CO-releasing polymers for safer, targeted cardiovascular therapy
Official title: CO Releasing Organic Polymers for Biomedical Applications
Funded at University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) · NIH-11353995 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new polymer-based approach releases carbon monoxide in a controlled way to help treat inflammation and cardiovascular conditions while reducing toxin risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $363,408 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147473-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353995 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with inflammatory or cardiovascular conditions where CO-based therapies might be beneficial in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without inflammatory or cardiovascular conditions or those exposed to high-risk CO situations may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create polymers that release carbon monoxide under a trigger to deliver therapeutic gas directly where it’s needed in the body. It addresses the challenges of CO’s solubility and toxicity by building safe, programmable materials that can release CO on demand. The team will study how these CO-releasing polymers interact with cardiovascular tissues and how they influence inflammation and transplant rejection in realistic models. The goal is a potential new therapeutic strategy that could improve heart and blood vessel health with fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer CO-based therapies for inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior CO-releasing approaches have shown potential but faced toxicity and delivery challenges, making this safer, targeted polymer approach promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Worrell, Brady — University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
- Study coordinator: Worrell, Brady
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics to treat Lewy Body Dementia
A new therapeutic approach using engineered protein-like molecules to block the harmful protein clumps that cause Lewy Body Dementia.
-
Group-based postpartum depression prevention: in-person vs. virtual delivery
A large study is testing whether the ROSE group program delivered virtually to pregnant people is just as helpful as the in-person version in preventing postpartum depression.
-
Understanding how soft tissue defects fail and rupture
A research project aims to uncover why soft tissue defects rupture by looking at the tiny, local changes in tissue mechanics and biology in models like the mouse carotid artery and stomach.
-
Personalized interpretation bias treatment for anxious kids
A new, child-friendly cognitive tool helps kids with anxiety learn to interpret ambiguity in a less threatening way to reduce worry.
-
Synthetic protein mimetics as potential therapies for Lewy Body Dementia
A new approach uses synthetic protein mimetics to interfere with harmful protein clumps in Lewy Body Dementia to slow or stop disease progression.
-
Lysosome remodeling in cells under stress, from yeast to human health
This grant explores how lysosome membranes change when cells are stressed, with potential implications for diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.
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.