Engineered galectin molecules to reduce local inflammation
Synthetic Multivalent Galectin Assemblies as Anti-Inflammatory Therapies
Engineered galectin assemblies are being developed to lower local inflammation for people with chronic inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11231668 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating engineered versions of two natural immune-regulating proteins (galectin-1 and galectin-3) linked together into small multivalent assemblies to boost their activity and stability. These assemblies are made by fusing galectin pieces onto peptide linkers that form stable coiled structures, producing a heterotetramer called a G1/G3 Zipper. In lab tests this engineered assembly showed stronger anti-inflammatory signaling than the natural proteins, and the team will further develop and test these nanoassemblies. The work focuses on designing formulations for localized delivery to inflamed tissues and testing them in laboratory and preclinical models as a step toward potential treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic, localized inflammatory conditions (for example certain autoimmune-related joint or skin inflammation) who have ongoing local symptoms despite standard therapies would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with purely systemic inflammatory disease that requires whole-body immunosuppression, or those needing immediate standard-of-care systemic therapy, may not benefit from this localized approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer more potent, locally delivered anti-inflammatory treatment with fewer systemic side effects than current drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work with natural galectin-1 and galectin-3 showed some promise but was limited by weak binding and instability, and the engineered G1/G3 Zipper showed stronger effects in lab studies, making this a novel but built-on-existing-knowledge approach.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hudalla, Gregory — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Hudalla, Gregory
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.