Assistant professor of nanoscience Kerui Wu has received a grant from NCInnovation to advance his work on targeted treatments for inflammation with fewer harsh side effects.
Many chronic diseases—like arthritis, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders—are driven by inflammation deep inside the body. But today’s anti-inflammatory drugs often affect the whole system, leading to side effects that make long-term use difficult. Dr. Wu’s project focuses on delivering medicine directly to the immune cells most responsible for inflammation, called macrophages.
Think of it like a targeted delivery service: instead of flooding the entire body, the treatment goes straight to the cells causing the problem. This approach could make medications work better at lower doses and with fewer risks.
For patients living with chronic inflammatory conditions, that could mean better quality of life. For healthcare providers, it could mean more effective tools that avoid some of the complications of current therapies.
“This NCInnovation grant recognizes UNCG’s strength in translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions.”
With NCInnovation support, the team will continue developing and testing this delivery platform, building a foundation for future treatments that are safer, more precise, and more responsive to patients’ real needs.
“Dr. Wu’s research into a new method for delivering anti-inflammatory medicines to the body could prove transformative,” said Michelle Bolas, NCInnovation’s interim CEO. “NCInnovation helps universities advance discoveries with just this kind of real-world application, strengthening the university-to-industry pipeline that’s central to American competitiveness.”
NCInnovation helps university innovations advance toward commercialization by supporting university applied research through the critical research and development phase between proof of concept and readiness for the private market. This December, NCInnovation approved $10 million to support 13 university research projects across 11 UNC System campuses. NCInnovation’s grant funding is part of a larger effort to support the development and commercialization of university research in North Carolina.
Photography by Sean Norona
Adapted from an announcement by NCInnovation
