Predicting how long-acting injectable shots release medicine in the body
Development of PBPK Model-Based Mechanistic IVIVCs for Long-Acting Injectable Suspensions
This project will build computer models to predict how long-acting injectable medicines release drugs in people's bodies, helping those who use monthly or extended-release injections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181596 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Long-acting injectable (LAI) shots form a depot under the skin or in muscle that slowly releases medicine over weeks or months, but we still don't fully understand how the medicine and the body interact at that depot. The team will combine lab measurements of formulation properties with physiologically based computer models (PBPK) to mimic the local tissue environment and drug release. They aim to create mechanistic links between formulation features and how the drug behaves in the body so predictions match real-life results. Over time this approach could be used to guide safer, more reliable LAI products and support generic versions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who currently use or might benefit from long-acting injectable treatments (for example contraception, psychiatric medications, or HIV prevention) are the intended eventual beneficiaries of this work.
Not a fit: Patients who need immediate-acting oral or intravenous treatments or who will never use long-acting injectable products are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could speed development of safer, more predictable, and more affordable long-acting injectable medicines for patients.
How similar studies have performed: PBPK and modeling approaches have reliably predicted drug behavior in some settings, but applying mechanistic in vitro–in vivo correlations specifically to long-acting injectable suspensions is relatively new and less established.
Where this research is happening
Storrs-Mansfield, United States
- University of Connecticut Storrs — Storrs-Mansfield, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burgess, Diane Jane — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Burgess, Diane Jane
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.