# Barrier Damage and The Immune CascadeNorthwestern University CounterACT Center of Excellence  (NUCCX)

> **NIH NIH U54** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $2,791,371

## Abstract

Northwestern University (NU) is recognized for its strong interdisciplinary cutaneous, ocular, nanotechnology
and immunology research programs with particular strength in investigations related to wound repair and
inflammation. Leveraging these strengths, the theme of the NU CounterAct Center of Excellence (NUCCX) is
the “Barrier Damage and The Immune Cascade”, with its goal to promote outstanding translational research in
the treatment of sulfur mustard (SM) injury. The NUCCX, with its 12 senior research scientists, encompasses 7
University departments within the Feinberg Medical School and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Information generated through the NUCCX will improve patient care to those suffering from SM injury. To
accomplish this goal, the NUCCX has the following Research Projects and Cores: (i) Topical and Systemic
Interventions for Mustard-induced Skin Injury (Project 1); (ii) Reversing the Ocular Impact of NM and SM Through
Novel Therapies (Project 2); (iii) Translation and Trials: Advancing Medical Countermeasure Development
(Project 3); (iv) Administrative Core (Core A); (v) Lipid-Based Materials Synthesis and Characterization Core
(Core B); (vi) Polymeric Materials Synthesis and Characterization Core (Core C); and (vii) Education and
Enrichment Core (Core D). Project 1 will examine the clinical potential of systemically administered PLGA-IMPs
in conjunction with vitamin D3 to mitigate immune activation following NM and SM skin exposure. A similar
nanoparticle-based strategy will be used to evaluate reduction of skin inflammation with topical HDL NP and/or
synthetic melanin PDA NP. Project 2 will define the clinical potential of topical HDL NP-based eye drops in the
context of acute and delayed phases resulting from NM and SM exposure in the cornea. A similar approach will
be taken to evaluate systemically administered vitamin D3 and PLGA-IMPs in ocular NM/SM injury. Project 3
will use non-invasive testing in humans to define the signature inflammatory biomarkers that will be evaluated in
clinical trials testing of vitamin D3 and PLGA-IMP. The translational studies are highly relevant to mustard as
they are based on multi-omics analysis data of archived skin samples from in vivo SM (non-human primate) and
NM (human) mustard exposure. The Admin Core will be a focal point for all University-wide SM-related activities
and will be responsible for coordinating all activities of the NUCCX. Core B will synthesize a suite of organic
cores to be used as templates to produce a library of nanoparticles formulated to be topically applied to the eye
and skin. Core C will synthesize synthetic melanin, polymer-peptide hybrid materials and PLGA-IMPs to be used
for therapeutic development. Core D will foster education and training, as well as advance personal and
professional development of NUCCX trainees and investigators. This Core will also promote inclusivity and
diversity within the mustard injury field. Projects 1-3 and Cores A-D ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10490379
- **Project number:** 5U54AR079795-02
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT M LAVKER
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $2,791,371
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-17 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10490379

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10490379, Barrier Damage and The Immune CascadeNorthwestern University CounterACT Center of Excellence  (NUCCX) (5U54AR079795-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10490379. Licensed CC0.

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