Drug to protect the brain after stroke in people with type 2 diabetes
Novel Pharmacological Approach to Stroke Neuroprotection
A drug that boosts a cell pump called SERCA2 aims to protect the brains of people with type 2 diabetes after an ischemic stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11240286 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a small-molecule drug called CDN1163 that activates SERCA2, a pump that helps cells control calcium and avoid damage. In lab work using diabetic and non-diabetic mice, they give the drug after an ischemic stroke to see if it reduces blood–brain barrier leakage, swelling, bleeding, and cell death and improves functional recovery. They will examine brain tissue, blood vessels, and cellular stress and inflammation markers to understand how the drug works. The results are intended to guide future safety and treatment studies in people with type 2 diabetes who have had a stroke.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The ideal candidates would be adults with type 2 diabetes who have experienced an acute ischemic stroke and are within the early treatment window for neuroprotective therapy.
Not a fit: People with hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes, only transient ischemic attacks, or without type 2 diabetes may be unlikely to benefit from this SERCA2-targeted treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce brain injury, limit swelling and bleeding, and improve recovery after ischemic stroke in people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Related SERCA2-activating treatments are mostly at the preclinical stage, with early mouse studies including preliminary data on CDN1163 showing reduced infarct size, but human trials have not yet been done.
Where this research is happening
Memphis, United States
- University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr — Memphis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lebeche, Djamel — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
- Study coordinator: Lebeche, Djamel
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.