Using endothelial cells to improve delivery of therapeutic molecules via extracellular vesicles
Official title: Endothelial cell-assisted extracellular vesicle bioengineering for cytoplasmic delivery of therapeutic molecules
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10866933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to deliver treatments for tough diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, and heart problems by using tiny carriers made from cells in our blood vessels, which could lead to better therapies for patients dealing with these chronic conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $622,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EB035738-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10866933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals suffering from chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute conditions or those not affected by the targeted chronic diseases may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the delivery of therapeutic molecules to treat complex diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The approach involves using endothelial cells to actively package therapeutic cargo into extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are tiny vesicles that can carry various biological molecules. By improving the efficiency of how these EVs are engineered, the research aims to create more effective treatments that can target multiple pathways in the body. Patients may benefit from new therapies that can better address their chronic conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for chronic diseases by improving how therapeutic molecules are delivered to cells.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of extracellular vesicles in therapy is gaining traction, this specific approach of using endothelial cells for cargo packaging is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crewe, Clair — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Crewe, Clair
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.