Improving lab models to test medicines that protect tissue barriers
MPS Qualifications
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · NIH-11263658
This project builds better lab models to help develop medicines that protect tissue barriers for people with infections, autoimmune conditions, or brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11263658 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, the team is building a modular lab platform (called µSiM) that recreates very thin tissue barriers using ultra-thin silicon membranes and human cell types. They will measure how cells and molecules move across those barriers over time, include physical forces, and run multiple tests in parallel. The program aims to produce five FDA-qualified drug development tools that drug makers can use to see whether new treatments protect barrier function in conditions like autoimmune disease, bone infection, and CNS disorders. Because the platform is designed to be scalable and reliable, it should help speed and improve preclinical testing before human trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune disorders, bone infections, or neurological diseases involving tissue-barrier problems would be the most likely to benefit from drugs developed using these tools and could be future trial candidates.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment or those with health issues unrelated to tissue barrier dysfunction are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it faster and safer to develop drugs that protect tissue barriers and lead to better treatments for infections, autoimmune disease, and neurological conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Existing barrier models (like Transwell and several commercial tissue chips) have been useful but have limitations, and this program builds on that prior work to create more scalable and reliable tools.
Where this research is happening
ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER — ROCHESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCGRATH, JAMES L — UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- Study coordinator: MCGRATH, JAMES L
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.
Conditions: Autoimmune Diseases, Bone Infection, CNS Diseases, CNS disorder