Developability assessment and in vivo pharmacology studies of AQP9 inhibitors in the treatment of systemic inflammation caused by burn wounds

This Project Grant award, provided by the Defense Health Agency under the Military Medical Research and Development (CFDA 12.420) program, supports research to assess the developability and in vivo pharmacology of AQP9 inhibitors for treating systemic inflammation caused by burn wounds. The total award amount is $1,634,902.00, with a period of performance from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2026.

The primary work under this grant will be conducted by the University of Florida, a major public research university with extensive expertise in federal research contracts and grants. The University of Florida will focus on optimizing the chemical synthesis, formulation development, and animal pharmacokinetic studies for the lead AQP9 inhibitor compound, RG210179. Additionally, the Metis Foundation, a non-profit organization specializing in military medical research, will execute pre-clinical animal studies to investigate the efficacy of the AQP9 inhibitor in a burn injury model.

This federal grant award aims to advance the developability and in vivo pharmacology of novel AQP9 inhibitors as potential treatments for the systemic inflammation associated with burn wounds, with the goal of transforming healthcare for military service members and the broader public.