Dr. Anjali Sharma is excited to announce the launch of two new 5-year NIH R01 awards (each $2.7M), marking a significant milestone for the Sharma Lab’s translational nanomedicine program at Washington State University.
R01 #1 will advance the lab’s 2-deoxyglucose dendrimer (2DG-D) platform, a novel nanotechnology for precise, targeted delivery of therapeutics to neurons at the site of brain injury.
“One of the biggest hurdles in treating brain injury is delivering drugs systemically and getting them specifically to injured neurons,” says Dr. Sharma. “Our 2DG-D technology is designed to overcome this challenge, potentially transforming treatment for pediatric traumatic brain injury and paving the way for applications in other neurological disorders.”
R01 #2 focuses on mixed-layered glycodendrimer-based targeted therapies for corneal neovascularization, a vision-threatening process behind numerous ocular diseases.
“Current therapies are often invasive and non-specific. Our goal is to create a targeted, less invasive treatment that can deliver drugs directly to aberrant blood vessels in the eye and help preserve vision for millions,” Dr. Sharma explains.
Together, these projects reflect the Sharma Lab’s commitment to bridging cutting-edge nanotechnology with real-world clinical applications, addressing critical treatment gaps in neurology and ophthalmology.
This achievement is a testament to the dedication of the Sharma Lab team and the invaluable support of collaborators. The lab looks forward to advancing these innovations toward tangible health solutions.