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

西北大学(NU)以其强大的跨学科皮肤、眼睛和纳米技术而闻名 和免疫学研究计划，特别是在与伤口修复和 发炎。利用这些优势，NU中和卓越中心(NUCCX)的主题是 “屏障损伤和免疫级联”，其目标是促进优秀的翻译研究 硫磺芥末(SM)损伤的治疗。NUCCX拥有12名高级研究科学家，包括7名 范伯格医学院和温伯格艺术与科学学院内的大学系。 通过NUCCX产生的信息将改善对那些遭受SM损伤的患者的护理。至 为实现这一目标，国家协调中心有以下研究项目和核心：(I)专题和系统性 对芥末所致皮肤损伤的干预措施(项目1)；(2)通过以下途径逆转NM和SM对眼睛的影响 新疗法(项目2)；(Iii)翻译和试验：推动医学对策发展 (项目3)；(4)行政核心(核心A)；(5)脂基材料合成和表征核心 (六)聚合物材料合成和表征核心(C核心)；和(七)教育和 浓缩核心(核心D)。项目1将检验系统给药的PLGA-IMPS的临床潜力。 与维生素D3联合使用，以缓解NM和SM皮肤暴露后的免疫激活。一种类似的 基于纳米颗粒的策略将用于评估外用高密度脂蛋白NP和/或 合成黑色素PDA NP。项目2将确定以高密度脂蛋白NP为基础的局部滴眼液在 角膜中NM和SM暴露引起的急性和延迟期的背景。类似的方法将 用来评价全身应用维生素D3和PLGA-IMPS对眼NM/SM损伤的疗效。项目3 将在人体中使用非侵入性测试来定义标志性炎症生物标志物，这些标志性炎症生物标志物将在 维生素D3和PLGA-IMP的临床试验翻译研究与芥末高度相关，因为 它们是基于对活体SM(非人灵长类)和 接触NM(人体)芥末。行政核心将是全大学范围内与SM相关的所有活动的协调中心 并将负责协调NUCCX的所有活动。核心B将合成一套有机的 用作模板的核心，以生产局部应用于眼睛的纳米颗粒文库 还有皮肤。Core C将合成合成黑色素、聚合物-肽杂化材料和将使用的PLGA-IMPS 用于治疗发展。核心D将促进教育和培训，以及促进个人和 NUCCX学员和调查人员的职业发展。这一核心还将促进包容性和 芥菜伤害区内的多样性。项目1-3和A-D岩心相互交错，具有很强的 翻译组件。NUCCX处于有利地位，可以将基本发现应用到临床环境中，这将 促进我们对皮肤和眼睛的SM损伤的理解和治疗。

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 interdigitate with each other and have strong translational components. The NUCCX is well positioned to take basic findings into a clinical setting, which will facilitate our understanding and treating SM injury of the skin and eyes.