High-content screening for bifunctional protein drugs
Official title: High Content Screening for Bifunctional Chimera Biologics
Funded at Heligenics INC · NIH-11252358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing overview of a grant designing a new way to test innovative protein medicines that could boost immune responses and treat conditions linked to inflammation and immunity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Heligenics INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Henderson, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $801,133 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI188872-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions who might benefit from interferon-based therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Participants in this stage are not yet recruited for human trials; this is a technology development grant.
What this research studies
This project aims to speed up the discovery of new protein-based medicines by using a high-content screening platform to test large libraries of bifunctional Interferon chimeras. Researchers will adapt a previously developed chemistry-like screening system to evaluate how these proteins stimulate cells, with the goal of finding safer and more effective biologics. If successful, the approach could shorten the path from lab discovery to potential treatments for immune-related diseases and other conditions where interferons play a role. The work is conducted by Heligenics Inc. under Liz Valente, and it focuses on advancing tools that could help bring new protein therapies to patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this platform could accelerate the development of safer, more effective protein drugs that modulate the immune system and inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that high-content screening can speed discovery of small molecules; this project aims to extend a similar approach to complex biologics, which is promising but still early-stage.
Where this research is happening
-
Heligenics INC
Henderson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valente, Liz — Heligenics INC
- Study coordinator: Valente, Liz
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Developing new biologic drugs using advanced screening techniques
This study is looking for new types of medicines that can boost your immune system to help treat cancer, obesity, and autoimmune diseases, so that patients can have safer and more effective treatment options.
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.