Saracatinib to protect the developing brain after nerve agent exposure
Official title: Investigating the efficacy and mechanistic pathways of saracatinib, a medical countermeasure, in a pediatric rat DFP model
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11303073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work tests whether the drug saracatinib can help protect the young brain from long-term seizures, thinking, and movement problems after exposure to organophosphate nerve agents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $146,426 |
| NIH project number | 3U01NS117284-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11303073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal future human candidates would be children or adolescents who survived acute organophosphate nerve agent exposure and have ongoing seizures or lasting cognitive or motor problems.
✕Less likely to help
People with dementia or brain injury from unrelated causes, or those only at risk of acute exposure but without long-term symptoms, may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Researchers use a young (pediatric) rat model of organophosphate (DFP) exposure to mimic how nerve agents injure the developing brain. They give saracatinib, a Src kinase inhibitor, using optimized doses and diet-based delivery and follow animals long term for seizures, memory, motor skills, inflammation, and brain damage. The team measures drug levels, behavioral outcomes, and biological markers to understand how saracatinib works and whether it reduces chronic neurotoxicity. Findings will guide whether this approach could move toward human testing as a medical countermeasure for survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, saracatinib could become part of treatments that prevent long-term seizures, cognitive decline, and neurodegeneration in survivors of organophosphate nerve agent exposure, especially in the young.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical work in adult rat DFP and soman models has shown promising disease-modifying effects and feasible pharmacokinetics for saracatinib, but human testing has not yet occurred.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thippeswamy, Thimmasettappa — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Thippeswamy, Thimmasettappa
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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.