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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy (SOP) has been awarded two prestigious R-16 grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling nearly $1.3 million. These grants will support cutting-edge research in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer treatment, reinforcing the school’s commitment to advancing medical science.

Ken Witt, PhD, professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Michael Crider, PhD, chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, professor and associate dean of research, have received a grant of $575,000 for their research on potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Their project, titled "Dopamine and Sigma Receptor Mixed Modulators for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease," focuses on developing new therapeutic strategies to combat this devastating neurodegenerative disorder, which affects millions worldwide.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, with an estimated 6.9 million people affected in the United States alone—a number projected to grow to 13.8 million by 2060 (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). The global projection for AD is more than150 million people by 2050. Despite these staggering numbers, treatment options remain limited. Witt and Crider's research aims to address this gap by exploring sigma receptors (σ1 and σ2) and dopamine receptors (D2 and D3) as brain targets for AD treatment.

"The mixed modulator approach is novel and presents a viable means to treat cognitive decline and associated symptoms," said Witt. "Our proof-of-concept study evaluates these mixed modulators in a mouse model of cognitive decline and AD. Our goal is to offer a new line of treatment that is not redundant with current medications, ultimately benefiting AD patients and their caregivers."

The study focuses on the effects of chronic treatment with these novel modulators, assessing behavior and locomotor responses in AD mouse models. Key brain regions associated with AD pathology and targeted receptors will be evaluated for changes in mRNA and protein expression, providing insights into the therapeutic potential of these compounds.

In a separate grant, Bhargav Patel, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Joe Schober, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, have been awarded $722,500 to fund their research into new cancer treatment discoveries. This grant will support their investigation into novel therapeutic agents and strategies that aim to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Their work focuses on developing treatments that can target cancer cells more effectively while minimizing side effects. 

“Cancer is a group of diseases that seriously impacts human health and is very costly to society. In 2024, over 2 million new cancer cases and about 611,000 deaths are expected in the United States alone. Many cancer treatments stop working over time because the cancer cells become resistant to them. That's why new and safer drugs are needed,” said Patel. “Our research focuses on finding new treatments by targeting a key part of cancer cell machinery called the eIF4F complex. This complex helps cancer cells make the proteins they need to grow and survive. By blocking this complex, we hope to halt cancer cells from growing and prevent them from becoming resistant to treatment.”

“We have discovered a new compound that can block the eIF4F complex. We've received a four-year grant from the NIH to develop this compound into a more effective and safer drug. Our goal is to create a treatment that not only works better against cancer but also has fewer side effects,” Patel added.

The receipt of these NIH grants highlights the SOP's commitment to research excellence and innovation. The SIUE community eagerly anticipates the progress and contributions that will emerge from these funded projects, further solidifying the university’s role as a leader in pharmaceutical research and education.

To learn more about the SOP's commitment to research, visit The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

PHOTOS:  Ken Witt, PhD; Michael Crider, PhD; Bhargav Patel, PhD; and Joe Schober, PhD