Developing a long-lasting injectable treatment for repairing nerve injuries
Official title: Long-acting Injectable Protein Delivery System for Functional Repair of Peripheral Nerve Injury
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11004375 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to deliver helpful proteins for a longer time to support healing from nerve injuries, using tiny biodegradable particles, and it’s aimed at improving recovery for people with these types of injuries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $519,369 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134925-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004375 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with peripheral nerve injuries who may benefit from enhanced healing and functional recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-peripheral nerve injuries or those who do not respond to protein therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new injectable system that can deliver protein therapies over an extended period to help repair peripheral nerve injuries. It aims to provide a sustained release of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and agrin directly to nerve and muscle tissues, which are crucial for recovery. By using biodegradable nanoparticles, the study seeks to improve the effectiveness of these treatments while minimizing the need for frequent dosing. The research will assess the functional recovery in animal models to determine the potential benefits for patients with nerve injuries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved recovery outcomes for patients suffering from peripheral nerve injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar approaches using localized delivery systems for protein therapies, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mao, Hai-Quan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Mao, Hai-Quan
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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.