Developing safer medicines using deuterium labeling techniques
Official title: Highly Selective Cu-Catalyzed Reactions for Precision Deuteration and Alkyne Hydrofunctionalization
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11204002 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to make medications safer and more effective by adding a special form of hydrogen called deuterium to the drug molecules, and it's aimed at helping researchers create better treatments for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $294,175 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM147441-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11204002 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include individuals who require new therapeutic options for their conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not seeking new treatment options or those with conditions that do not respond to deuterated medicines may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating safer alternatives to existing medications by incorporating deuterium into drug molecules. The team aims to develop highly selective chemical reactions that allow for precise deuteration, which can enhance the safety and efficacy of drug candidates. By collaborating with experts in spectroscopy, they are also working on improving analytical techniques to accurately characterize these deuterated compounds. The goal is to advance the field of medicinal chemistry by providing better methods for drug development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the creation of safer and more effective medications for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using deuterium in drug development is promising, it is still relatively novel and untested in many applications.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Joseph — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Clark, Joseph
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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.