Turning on a brain enzyme to help recovery after stroke
Official title: Development and Characterization of Small Molecule Activators of Peptidase Neurolysin for Stroke Therapy
Funded at Oakland University · NIH-11245353 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to develop pill-like drugs that switch on a brain enzyme called neurolysin to help protect and repair the brain after a stroke.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oakland University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $645,589 |
| NIH project number | 2R01NS106879-07A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11245353 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The eventual human candidates would be people who have suffered an acute ischemic stroke and could enroll in future clinical trials of neurolysin-activating drugs.
✕Less likely to help
People without stroke, those with unrelated neurological diseases, or those many years past their stroke are unlikely to benefit from this early drug-development work.
What this research studies
The team is designing and improving small molecules that activate the enzyme neurolysin, which helps remove harmful peptides and produce protective ones after brain injury. They will optimize chemical leads for potency, selectivity, and drug-like properties and test them in lab and animal models of stroke. These molecules are intended as both research tools to study neurolysin and as starting points for future medicines. If they prove safe and effective in preclinical tests, the best candidates could move toward human clinical trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could reduce brain damage and improve recovery after stroke.
How similar studies have gone: Laboratory and animal studies already support neurolysin's protective role after stroke, but developing small-molecule activators is a relatively new and relatively untested therapeutic approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Oakland University
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Karamyan, Vardan T. — Oakland University
- Study coordinator: Karamyan, Vardan T.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Stroke prevention with hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria
A multinational, patient-facing study tests whether hydroxyurea can safely prevent first strokes in Nigerian children with sickle cell anemia.
-
Music-powered tools to boost blood pressure and stroke prevention for Nigerian youth and their older caregivers
This project uses popular music to help Nigerian youths and their older family members start and stick to blood pressure and stroke prevention habits.
-
Determinants of Post-Stroke Cognitive Outcomes and Vascular Effects on Recovery
A large, multi-site effort aims to understand why some stroke survivors develop long-term cognitive problems and dementia, and how vascular health and pre-existing brain changes influence recovery.
-
LRP1 controls NSC movement and stroke recovery
This NIH grant studies how a brain receptor called LRP1 helps neural stem cells move to stroke injuries and support recovery in adults.
-
BBB Dysfunction after Stroke and Risk for Dementia
A study at Stanford will look at whether inflammation after a stroke leads to leaky blood vessels and later dementia, by following stroke survivors and comparing them with people without stroke.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
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.