Grants

Organix was awarded an SBIR Grant to design radioligands as molecular tools to explore the interaction of methamphetamine with its biological target, the vesicular monoamine transporter. Dr. Peter Meltzer is the Principal Investigator on this SBIR Grant R43DA035006 entitled "The first reversible radioligand for the VMAT2 [³H]reserpine binding site" awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. There are currently no medications available to address the problem of methamphetamine addiction and the tools developed under this grant will accelerate the search for medications for methamphetamine addiction. Organix is collaborating with scientists at Veterans Administration Research Foundation in Portland Oregon in this program.

Dr. Howard Sard is the Principal Investigator on a two-year grant R43MH095315 “Benzodiazepine Analogs as Novel Treatments for Catatonia” awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health. The goal of this program is to synthesize and evaluate novel benzodiazepine derivatives as potential treatments for catatonia. Organix is collaborating with scientists at the University of North Carolina in these studies.

Dr. Anu Mahadevan is the Principal Investigator on a two-year grant RO3DA026593 “Development of CB2 Agonists for Treatment of Pain” and two five year grants RO1DA005488 “Synthesis of Δ⁹-Tetrahydrocannabinol Related Compounds” and P01-DA-009789 “Endogenous Cannabinoids and Brain Function” awarded by National Institute on Drug Abuse. The goal of these synthetic programs is elucidation of the role that receptors play in the complex pharmacological actions of cannabinoids, particularly pain, reward, cognition, and drug dependence. Organix is collaborating with scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University and Research Triangle Institute in these studies.

Dr. Vishnu Hegde is the Principal Investigator on a two-year Grant 1RO3AI088542 awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The goal of this grant, “Branched Carbocyclic Nucleosides as Potential Antiviral Agents,” is to discover new antiviral candidates to treat viral diseases such as HCV, SARS, West Nile virus, and H1N1 influenza by modifying a lead carbocyclic nucleoside analog. Organix is collaborating with scientists at Northeastern University and the National Institutes of Health in these studies.

Dr. Peter Meltzer has received an award from Oregon Health & Science University to design and synthesize prospective inhibitors of the vesicular monoamine uptake mechanism, VMAT2. The goal of this grant is to discover potential medications for methamphetamine addiction. Organix is collaborating with scientists at OHSU in these studies.

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