Breakthrough in Stroke Treatment: UConn Researchers Develop Experimental Drug
With limited treatment options for stroke patients available, two UConn researchers, Rajkumar Verma and Raman Bahal, are developing an innovative experimental drug that can protect the brain and improve recovery after a cerebral vascular accident, also known as a brain attack. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stroke remains one of the leading causes of long-term disability and death, with approximately 800,000 people in the United States experiencing a stroke each year, resulting in around 160,000 deaths.
Understanding the Role of MicroRNA in Stroke
Verma, an assistant professor at UConn Health, and Bahal, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UConn, have targeted a small regulatory biological molecule called microRNA (miRNA), which becomes abnormally elevated after a stroke, promoting inflammation, contributing to tissue loss, and causing a decline in neurological function. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulating gene expression, as stated by the National Institutes of Health.
Developing a Next-Generation Inhibitor
The researchers have developed a next-generation inhibitor of this miRNA to block its harmful effects. Unlike traditional experimental drugs that target only a single protein or molecule, this approach simultaneously suppresses multiple damaging processes by targeting several proteins, reducing brain injury, inflammation, and tissue damage while enhancing protective factors that support repair. Verma noted that current therapies for stroke are limited, including clot-busting drugs and surgical clot removal, which are only available to 10 to 15% of patients.
Bahal emphasized the significance of their research, stating that they are exploring new chemistries and drug delivery technologies to counterattack this devastating disease. The use of single proteins to target acute damage by stroke was not effective, as stroke affects a large number of proteins that may be contributing to brain damage. The researchers have found that a single dose of their next-generation miRNA inhibitor administered after a stroke not only decreased brain damage but also markedly enhanced movement, memory, and long-term recovery, with protective effects lasting up to 15 days in a mouse stroke model.
Future Directions and Funding
The researchers have filed a patent for their miRNA inhibitor and are in communication with pharmaceutical companies and other partners to develop it into an investigational new drug candidate for a future clinical trial. They have also received a $2.6 million grant for five years from the National Institutes of Health. With their innovative approach and dedication to finding effective treatments for stroke, Verma and Bahal are making significant strides in the field of neurological research.
Learn more about this breakthrough in stroke treatment and the work of UConn researchers Here
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