SBIR-STTR Award

Systems for intra-parenchymal therapy delivery
Award last edited on: 7/6/07

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NINDS
Total Award Amount
$729,727
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
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Principal Investigator
Raghu Raghavan

Company Information

Therataxis LLC

1101 E 33rd Street Suite B305
Baltimore, MD 21218
   (443) 451-7154
   raghu@therataxis.com
   www.therataxis.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 07
County: Baltimore City

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R44NS043105-01
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2002
Phase I Amount
$104,860
We are developing a suite of new computational methods to predict disposition of therapeutic agents directly injected into brain parenchyma. Our broad purpose is to develop a systems approach to site-specific delivery for brain diseases. We expect use in device design and selection, animal and pre-clinical testing, pre-operative planning, intra-operative controlled delivery, and post-operative monitoring. This fast track application aims to create (i) methods to validate models via in-vivo imaging (in Phase I), and (ii) a software product that can be used for predicting spatial distribution of intra-parenchymally injected molecules (in Phase II). The specific aims in Phase I are: (1) investigate MRI methods that can accurately assess the concentration of contrast agents in tissue when increase of water content and tissue edema can make quantitation difficult; and (2) propose methods to assess the resistance of brain tissue to the flow of injected fluid, including preferred directions of flow. Successful completion will enable assay of molecules in tissue in vivo for research. This will therefore have value well beyond the other aim, namely to provide the basis for validating software which will be developed in Phase II to serve as a critical pre-operative planning tool for all such deliveries in clinical practice.

Thesaurus Terms:
brain, drug delivery system, magnetic resonance imaging, technology /technique development biotherapeutic agent, computer program /software, edema, gadolinium, injection /infusion, pharmacokinetics, vascular resistance

Phase II

Contract Number: 4R44NS043105-02
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2003
(last award dollars: 2004)
Phase II Amount
$624,867

We are developing a suite of new computational methods to predict disposition of therapeutic agents directly injected into brain parenchyma. Our broad purpose is to develop a systems approach to site-specific delivery for brain diseases. We expect use in device design and selection, animal and pre-clinical testing, pre-operative planning, intra-operative controlled delivery, and post-operative monitoring. This fast track application aims to create (i) methods to validate models via in-vivo imaging (in Phase I), and (ii) a software product that can be used for predicting spatial distribution of intra-parenchymally injected molecules (in Phase II). The specific aims in Phase I are: (1) investigate MRI methods that can accurately assess the concentration of contrast agents in tissue when increase of water content and tissue edema can make quantitation difficult; and (2) propose methods to assess the resistance of brain tissue to the flow of injected fluid, including preferred directions of flow. Successful completion will enable assay of molecules in tissue in vivo for research. This will therefore have value well beyond the other aim, namely to provide the basis for validating software which will be developed in Phase II to serve as a critical pre-operative planning tool for all such deliveries in clinical practice.

Thesaurus Terms:
brain, drug delivery system, magnetic resonance imaging, technology /technique development biotherapeutic agent, computer program /software, edema, gadolinium, injection /infusion, pharmacokinetics, vascular resistance