Project Grant R21AI196601

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded The Trustees Of The Stevens Institute Of Technology $192,765 on September 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855).

The award funds development of a machine learning-guided coarse-grained modeling framework to predict antibody behavior in high-concentration formulations for subcutaneous drug delivery. The research integrates small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), viscosity, and aggregation data to parameterize protein-protein interactions across diverse therapeutic antibodies. The objective is to establish a predictive platform connecting antibody sequence to macroscopic solution properties, enabling rational design of low-viscosity, stable formulations that reduce injection difficulty and aggregation risk in subcutaneous administration. The work addresses a key challenge in formulation science: high viscosity and irreversible aggregation currently limit clinical feasibility and manufacturability of concentrated antibody therapeutics.

Performance occurs in Hoboken, New Jersey, with a period of performance running through August 31, 2028. The assistance type is a Project Grant, classified as R21 funding under the NIH structure.