Improving how medicines can cross the blood-brain barrier
Official title: Modulating Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability by TRPV4 activation
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-10999286 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to help medications reach the brain more easily, which could lead to better treatments for neurological diseases that don't have many options right now.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $447,501 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS135529-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10999286 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals suffering from neurological disorders that require medication to reach the brain effectively.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not involve the blood-brain barrier or those who do not require drug delivery to the brain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the delivery of medications to the brain by modifying the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which typically prevents drugs from entering the brain. The team aims to use innovative techniques involving magnetic switches and calcium signaling to control the permeability of the BBB in a targeted manner. By optimizing these methods in laboratory settings, they hope to create a more effective way to deliver treatments for neurological diseases. This approach could potentially allow for more precise and effective therapies for conditions that currently have limited treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment options for patients with neurological diseases by enabling more effective drug delivery to the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promise in using similar approaches to enhance drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, indicating potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Qin, Zhenpeng — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Qin, Zhenpeng
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.