Funded Projects

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Project # Project Title Research Focus Area Research Program Administering IC Institution(s) Investigator(s) Location(s) Year Awarded Sort descending
5R01NS094461-04
Clustering of individual and diverse ion channels together into complexes, and their functional coupling, mediated by A-kinase anchoring protein 79/150 in neurons Preclinical and Translational Research in Pain Management Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Treatment of Pain NINDS UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR SAN ANTONIO SHAPIRO, MARK S San Antonio, TX 2018
NOFO Title: Administrative Supplements for Validation of Novel Non-Addictive Pain Targets (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
NOFO Number: NOT-NS-18-073
Summary:

Multi-protein complexes have emerged as a mechanism for spatiotemporal specificity and efficiency in the function and regulation of cellular signals. Many ion channels are clustered either with the receptors that modulate them or with other ion channels whose activities are linked. Often, the clustering is mediated by scaffolding proteins, such as AKAP79/150. We will probe complexes containing AKAP79/150 and three different channels critical to nervous function: KCNQ/Kv7, TRPV1, and CaV1.2. We will use"super-resolution" STORM imaging of primary sensory neurons and heterologously expressed tissue-culture cells, in which individual complexes can be visualized at 10–20 nm resolution with visible light. We hypothesize that AKAP79/150 brings several of these channels together to enable functional coupling, which we will examine by patch-clamp electrophysiology of the neurons. Since all three of these channels bind to AKAP79/150, we hypothesize that they co-assemble into complexes in neurons and that they are dynamically regulated by other cellular signals.

2R44NS086343-04
IND-ENABLING STUDIES ON NOVEL CAV3 T-CHANNEL MODULATORS FOR TREATMENT OF NEUROPATHIC PAIN Cross-Cutting Research Small Business Programs NINDS AFASCI, INC. XIE, XINMIN SIMON REDWOOD CITY, CA 2018
NOFO Title: NINDS Renewal Awards of SBIR Phase II Grants (Phase IIB) for Pre-Clinical Research (R44)
NOFO Number: PAR-17-480
Summary:

We discovered a class of non-opioid modulators of the T-type Cav3.2 channel that could treat neuropathic pain. In vivo pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies and preliminary toxicological studies identified AFA-279 and other candidates, which did not produce observable side-effects and showed greater analgesic effects than other neuropathic pain medications in rodent models. The goal of this proposed project is to submit the IND application on our Cav3.2 modulator to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We will produce AFA-279 under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)–like conditions using chemical manufacturing controls for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) nonclinical toxicity studies and GMP clinical batch future Phase 1 clinical trials, complete toxicological and safety studies to establish the safety profile of AFA-279, prepare and submit the IND application, and then initiate early clinical trials. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a safer, more effective, non-opioid Cav3.2 channel modulator to patients suffering from neuropathic pain.

3S06GM128073-02S1
Native American Research Centers For Health (NARCH X) New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction Preventing Opioid Use Disorder NIGMS INDIAN HEALTH COUNCIL, INC. CALAC, DANIEL J. Valley Center, CA 2018
NOFO Title: Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06)
NOFO Number: PAR-16-297
1R21AT010118-01
COMPREHENSIVE CBT VIA RESET FOR A HUB AND SPOKE MAT SYSTEM OF CARE New Strategies to Prevent and Treat Opioid Addiction NCCIH Pennsylvania State University Hershey Medical Center KAWASAKI, SARAH SHARFSTEIN; NUNES, EDWARD V. Hershey, PA 2018
NOFO Title: Clinical Trials or Observational Studies of Behavioral Interventions for Prevention of Opioid Use Disorder or Adjunct to Medication Assisted Treatment-SAMHSA Opioid STR Grants (R21/R33)
NOFO Number: RFA-AT-18-002
Summary:

This study proposes to test the delivery of a comprehensive cognitive behavioral therapy, reSET, to determine whether it can improve treatment adherence and long-term outcome among patients with opioid use disorder initiating medication-assisted treatment within a community-based"Hub and Spoke” Model of buprenorphine maintenance in central Pennsylvania. reSET (Pear Therapeutics, Inc.) is a commercially available version of the web-based Therapeutic Education System (TES) delivered as a mobile app and recently approved by the FDA as the first digital therapeutic adjunct for the treatment of substance use disorders. Through a series of interactive therapy lessons, the program teaches patients cognitive-behavioral coping skills to resist drug use and to address factors such as craving, depression, and other mood problems and relationship issues that are associated with risk of relapse. The CM component provides concrete rewards contingent on performance of key target behaviors.

3U54DA038999-05S1
MEDICATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR COCAINE USE DISORDER Novel Therapeutic Options for Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose NIDA VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY MOELLER, FREDERICK GERARD Richmond, VA 2018
NOFO Title: Medications Development Centers of Excellence Cooperative Program (U54)
NOFO Number: RFA-DA-15-003
Summary:

This U54 Center will use translational research from brain to bedside as a tool for medication development in cocaine use disorder. Preclinical and early phase I clinical PK/PD data will provide information for go/no-go decisions on phase II–III clinical trials with medications that show promise for cocaine use disorder. The overall goal of this research is to create a center that can provide important preclinical and early phase I clinical data to NIDA and pharmaceutical industry partners on novel compounds for cocaine use disorder. The aims related to the theme of the center will be achieved through two cores and three projects: The Administrative Core serves as a general resource for the other projects and the Educational Core, including oversight of fiscal and compliance matters, and will oversee interactions with outside entities, including NIDA and the pharmaceutical industry. The Educational Core will focus on training translational researchers for medication development for addictions across the two institutions.