$7,163,794
Center for Intracellular Delivery of Biologics
University of Washington
Focus: To better deliver drugs to their site of action within cells
With mainstream delivery methods a drug often gets 'lost' and does not reach the proper area within a patient's body to have the designated effect. A multi-disciplinary research center with three cores - drug characterization, smart delivery systems, and preclinical models - will be created where scientists will develop new approaches for delivering biological drugs inside human cells. Highly-targeted delivery and release of these drugs to their sites of action inside the cells optimize drug therapy in defined cell populations and minimize damage to other areas of the body.
Cancer and pulmonary trauma are leading causes of death in Washington and across the nation and result in millions of inpatient hospital days. Using polymer chemistry and nanotechnology, the center investigators will develop new technology platforms by evaluating the safety and effectiveness of drug delivery systems for these medical conditions. This program will identify new intracellular drug vehicles for clinical use that could result in many new commercialization opportunities.
Collaborating organization: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Grant Update
“The Center for Intracellular Delivery of Biologics has been initiated and key research and infrastructure elements have been established. On the research side progress has been made in constructing new protein delivery systems, and in developing new targeted therapeutics for lung injury diseases. The CIDB has also established a new Bioanalytical Pharmacy Core Facility that has drawn usage not only from CIDB investigators but also researchers at UW and several Seattle-area biotechnology companies. Some new spinout grants and programs have been initiated as well in the first year.”
