Improving how medicines are absorbed through the gut
Official title: Polyesters with controlled topologies for probing transcytosis at the gut-blood barrier
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11116934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to create new materials and tools to help deliver medicines more effectively when taken by mouth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $367,937 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM146097-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not recruiting patients directly but could eventually benefit anyone who needs to take medications by mouth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require oral medications or whose conditions are not targeted by this specific drug delivery approach would not directly benefit from this particular research.
What this research studies
Many medicines are taken by mouth, but it can be hard for them to get from the gut into the bloodstream effectively. This project is developing new types of plastic-like materials, called polyesters, that can carry drugs and help them cross the gut barrier. Researchers are also creating computer models to predict how these new drug carriers will behave in the body. The goal is to make it easier for important medicines to reach where they need to go after being swallowed.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective oral medications, making it easier for patients to take their drugs and improving treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: While polymer nanoparticles show promise for drug delivery, this project addresses current limitations by developing more versatile structures and predictive tools, building upon existing but incomplete approaches.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Majeti, Ravikumar N — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Majeti, Ravikumar N
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.