USA – A new collaboration has been formed between the Eshelman Institute for Innovation (EII), within the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Aston University, for a three-year long project focused on preventing damage caused by swelling of the central nervous system (CNS).
EII has issued a US$400 grant to co-principal investigators Kevin Frankowski, Ph.D., assistant professor for the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery at the School, and Roslyn Bill, Ph.D., professor of biotechnology at Aston, to develop treatments for CNS swelling.
The project will involve the validation of non-surgical approaches to treat the CNS swelling that may occur following a stroke or traumatic brain or spine injuries remains a critical unmet medical challenge.
Specifically, it will involve the development of first-in-class small molecule candidates as potential therapeutic agents to treat the underlying cause of CNS swelling post stroke or accident.
EII notes that safe and effective treatment options are urgently needed for the millions of patients worldwide who suffer from these injuries every year.
The institution also acknowledged that both Frankowski and Bill brought unique and necessary knowledge to the table for this project and the opportunity to work together, research and develop new therapeutic agents is only possible because of EII.
With unparalleled access to the medicinal chemistry expertise at EII world class expertise in neuropharmacology, the project will allow for the discovery of the biological mechanism behind traumatic brain injury.
Prof. John Bamforth, Ph.D., executive director of the EII and a former graduate of Aston University, said, “We are extremely excited to see this collaboration begin. EII embraces bringing together the brightest and best scientists to solve major patient needs. Personally, it is also a delight to see the number one School of pharmacy in the U.S. partner with Aston.”
The EII was established in 2014 with a US$100 million commitment from Fred Eshelman, Pharm.D, and provides translational grant funding to University’s faculty for therapeutic research focused on oncology, infectious disease, and neuroscience (including rare diseases).
Through their grant mechanism, the EII encourages research proposals that include a broad spectrum of scientific engagement through meaningful collaborations across a variety of diverse disciplines, departments, schools, and institutions.
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