Developing new drugs to treat river blindness caused by filarial worms
Integrative approach for accelerating filarial worm drug discovery to treat river blindness
This study is working on a new medicine that aims to directly kill the adult worms causing river blindness, with the hope of providing a safer and more effective treatment for people suffering from this disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10872271 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to create a new drug that directly targets and kills adult filarial worms responsible for river blindness, a serious tropical disease. The approach involves using advanced techniques to identify essential molecular targets in these worms and screening existing drugs to find those that can effectively eliminate them. By focusing on a multidimensional experimental strategy, the researchers hope to overcome the limitations of current treatments that cannot be used in certain regions due to safety concerns. Patients may benefit from a more effective treatment option that could lead to better management of river blindness.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in endemic regions of river blindness, particularly those who have not responded well to existing treatments.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have river blindness or live in areas where the disease is not prevalent may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment for river blindness, improving health outcomes for affected individuals.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing new treatments for neglected tropical diseases, indicating potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mitreva, Makedonka — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mitreva, Makedonka
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.