Developing a New Medicine for African Sleeping Sickness
Official title: Optimization and Modes of Action of NEU-4438, a New Anti-trypanosome Lead Drug
Funded at Kennesaw State University · NIH-11060963 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research is creating and testing a promising new medicine called NEU-4438 to treat human African trypanosomiasis, also known as African Sleeping Sickness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kennesaw State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kennesaw, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2016 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $666,604 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI124046-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11060963 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is ultimately for patients diagnosed with human African trypanosomiasis, also known as African Sleeping Sickness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have human African trypanosomiasis would not directly benefit from this specific drug development effort.
What this research studies
African Sleeping Sickness is a serious disease, and we need new medicines that work differently from current treatments. Our team has developed over 540 new compounds, starting from an existing FDA-approved drug, to find the best possible candidate. We are focusing on making sure these new compounds are very effective against the parasite, safe for human cells, and can reach the brain. Our most promising compound, NEU-4438, has shown excellent results in laboratory tests and extended the lives of infected mice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new, more effective oral treatment for human African trypanosomiasis, offering a better option for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have successfully developed drugs for African Sleeping Sickness, and this work builds upon existing drug discovery methods and an FDA-approved drug scaffold.
Where this research is happening
-
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mensa-Wilmot, Kojo a. — Kennesaw State University
- Study coordinator: Mensa-Wilmot, Kojo a.
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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.