University of Connecticut

Eascra Biotech Secures $100,000 MassVentures Grant for Novel Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Platform

3 days ago

• Eascra Biotech has received a $100,000 Stage I SBIR Targeted Technologies grant to advance their Janus Base Nanoparticles (JBNps) delivery platform for hard-to-reach tissues. • The company has leveraged microgravity research, completing five missions on the International Space Station, becoming the first commercial entity to produce medical nanoparticles in space. • Eascra's proprietary technology can deliver RNA therapeutics to challenging tissues like cartilage and solid tumors while maintaining mRNA stability at room temperature, eliminating cold chain requirements.

Yale Researchers Launch Novel App-Based Intervention to Combat HIV Risk in Chemsex Communities

4 months ago

• Yale researchers have developed JomCare, an innovative mobile app designed to reduce HIV transmission risk by targeting sexualized drug use behaviors among gay and bisexual men. • The study employs a micro-randomized trial design to evaluate the effectiveness of just-in-time interventions in reducing high-risk behaviors associated with chemsex practices. • The research addresses a critical gap in HIV prevention, particularly in Southeast Asia where 90% of new HIV cases are sexually transmitted, with over half occurring among men who have sex with men.

Integrated Pharmacists Significantly Improve IBD Treatment Outcomes and Cost Savings

5 months ago

• A recent study demonstrates that IBD patients under direct pharmacist care showed 87.9% adherence to thiopurine medications compared to 65.7% under general practitioner guidance. • Pharmacist-led safety monitoring resulted in significantly higher proactive evaluation rates of blood tests and adverse effects (84.8% vs 8.1%) after three weeks of thiopurine use. • Integration of pharmacists in IBD management led to substantial cost savings, with one study showing $419,201 annual savings through pharmacist-led biosimilar transitions.

UConn Professors Develop Non-Opioid Pain Management Solution

7 months ago

• UConn professors are developing a novel approach to pain management that aims to minimize the use of opioid medications. • Soleia Biosciences, a startup founded by the professors, is working to bring the new formulation to clinical trials. • Preclinical trials have shown the formulation can reduce pain for over three weeks without prolonged numbing effects, potentially aiding rehabilitation. • The innovation seeks to provide surgeons with an additional tool for post-operative pain management, addressing concerns about opioid dependency.

UConn Stroke Drug Advances Towards Clinical Trials with NIH Grant

7 months ago

• UConn's experimental small-molecule drug has shown promise in reducing damage and restoring function after stroke in animal models. • A follow-up NIH grant of over $2 million will further advance testing of the anti-inflammatory therapy that targets the P2X4 receptor. • The drug aims to reduce brain damage caused by ischemic stroke by blocking the P2X4 receptor, potentially improving short- and long-term recovery. • Researchers plan to seek FDA approval for Investigational New Drug status, paving the way for first-in-human clinical trials.