# AZD0328 To Treat Traumatic Brain Injury

> **NIH NIH UG3** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON · 2020 · $310,646

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability with approximately 1.7 million incidents
occurring each year. There is an urgent need to develop new treatments that would limit brain pathology and
improve overall outcome. Recently, a signaling pathway has been described that by which the brain regulates
systemic inflammation. Specifically, this pathway acts on α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR)
present on peripheral immune cells to decrease inflammation. Activation of these receptors using chemical
agonists decreases TBI-triggered inflammation, reduces blood-brain barrier permeability and improves cognitive
outcome. The α7nAChR agonist AZD0328, developed by AstraZeneca, has been shown to improve cognitive
function in normal rodents and non-human primates. However, it has not been tested if AZD0328 can reduce
TBI-triggered inflammation, reduce brain pathology, or improve outcome. We propose to test the overall
hypothesis that AZD0328 will reduce inflammation in rats following TBI (primary outcome). Further, it is
anticipated that AZD0328 will reduce BBB permeability, brain pathology and improve cognitive outcome. If
beneficial effects are observed, we will proceed to the planning of a Phase II efficacy study. We propose two
aims to test our hypothesis: Aim 1 (UG3): To examine if AZD0328 reduces peripheral and central inflammation
and improves outcome in traumatically brain injured rats. Aim 2 (UH3): Clinical Trial Planning.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9917859
- **Project number:** 5UG3TR002739-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Charles S Cox
- **Activity code:** UG3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $310,646
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-17 → 2021-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9917859

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9917859, AZD0328 To Treat Traumatic Brain Injury (5UG3TR002739-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9917859. Licensed CC0.

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