Current Research

53 Active Trials at 40 Institutions in 37 Diseases in 13 Countries

 

Researchers work on current repurposing research projectsWe support investigator-initiated repurposing research projects in any unsolved disease including cardio, neuro, oncology, ophthalmic, vascular and rare diseases in pediatrics and adults. We support projects from accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions and large group medical practices located anywhere in the world. Our Impact Awards support early-stage companies bringing a repurposed treatment to market.

We take an impact philanthropy approach that prioritizes patient when selecting repurposing research projects. We support both philanthropic projects, which have little or no commercial value but have critical value to patients, as well as commercial projects, which industry may bring to regulatory approval and then to market. Our proof-of-concept funding of repurposing projects allows researchers and clinicians to leverage positive data into follow-on funding.

Our current projects were selected through a two-stage submission process. Applicants submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), and the top-scoring LOIs are typically invited to submit a more detailed proposal.  Both the LOIs and proposals are reviewed by an external, volunteer Grant Review Committee which represents academia and other nonprofit research institutions, industry, clinicians and the patient/community voice. This committee helps staff and the Science Advisory Board select the strongest projects for funding. Our customized approach allows donors to be as involved in the entire process as desired.

The diversity of our current projects reflects our disease-agnostic, patient-first approach:

  • more than 75% adult, less than 25% pediatric
  • more than 85% clinical, less than 15% pre-clinical
  • more than 75% drug, less than 25% device or other
  • more than 75% US-based, less than 25% outside of the US

Click HERE to see a map of our ongoing research projects!

 

Current Repurposing Research Projects

DISEASE AREAINSTITUTIONLEAD RESEARCHERPROJECT NAMETYPEOTHERSTATUS
DermatologyUniversity of AntananarivoDr. Rapelanoro RabenjaEffect of Methotrexate as a Treatment for Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis in Madagascar
DrugAdultIn Process
Ear Nose ThroatHouse Institute FoundationDr. Derebery - Researcher Spotlight available hereReducing Vertigo and Hearing Loss in Meniere’s Disease by Repurposing a Common Allergy DrugDrugAdultIn Process
Ear Nose ThroatUniversity Hospital of MunichDr. ZwergalIdentifying a Potential Biomarker and Repurposed Migraine Treatment in Meniere’s diseaseDrugAdultIn Process
Ear Nose ThroatUniversity Hospital of MunichDrs. Zwergal and FilippopulosTreating Vestibular Neuritis Symptoms with a Thyroid Hormone
DrugAdultStarted 2024
Ear Nose ThroatUniversity of Illinois ChicagoDrs. Lee and PerezTreating Chronic Sinus Inflammation with a Probiotic Sinus Wash
NutraceuticalAdultStarted 2024
Ear Nose ThroatYale UniversityDr. NavaratnamInvestigating the Effects of Blocking Immune Disease Pathways in Meniere’s Disease
DrugPre-ClinicalStarted 2024
GIKenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Dr. KariukiRepurposing Lactoferrin and Lysozyme to Address Environmental Enteric Dysfunction in KenyaNutraceuticalPediatricStarted 2025
Immune DisorderUniversity of ChicagoDr. CiaccioNon-invasive Monitoring to Detect Food Allergic ReactionsDeviceAdult and PediatricStarted 2025
Immune Disorder/RareCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterDr. Abonia
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Repurposing a Rare Disease Treatment for the Immune Disorder Eosinophilic EsophagitisDrugAdultIn Process
Immune Disorder/RareSt. Jude Children’s Research HospitalDr. Nichols - Researcher Spotlight available hereRepurposing a Blood Cancer Drug to Treat an Immune Disorder (HLH) in Children *Drug PediatricIn Process
Infectious DiseaseGeorge Washington University, Universidad El BosqueDr. Chang - Researcher Spotlight available hereRepurposing a Flu Treatment for Severe Dengue Patients in ColombiaDrugPediatricIn Process
Infectious DiseaseUniversité d'Abomey-CalaviDr. JohnsonAdding Beta-lactam Antibiotics to Shorten Buruli Ulcer Disease Therapy in Benin
DrugAdult and PediatricStarted 2024
Infectious DiseaseUniversity of ChicagoDr. Meltzer - Researcher Spotlight available hereCan Vitamin D Reduce the Burden of COVID-19 in Chicago?NutraceuticalAdultIn Process
Infectious DiseaseUniversity of Science, Technology and Engineering of BamakoDr. DembeleComparing Two Drugs to Treat P. Malariae in MaliDrugAdult and PediatricStarted 2025
Infectious DiseaseInternational Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, BangladeshDr. MorshedAssessing a Combination Therapy for Helminthiasis in Bangladeshi ChildrenDrugPediatricStarted 2025
Infectious Disease/RareInternational Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, BangladeshDr. MondalAssessing Safety and Efficacy of Oral Ivermectin in Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis TreatmentDrugAdultIn Process
Inherited DisorderGlobal Health Uganda LtdDr. NamazziAdding Zinc to Reduce Sickle Cell Anemia-related Infections in Ugandan ChildrenNutraceuticalPediatricStarted 2024
Inherited Disorder/RareUniversity of ChicagoDr. WesevichTesting a Low-Dose Anti-inflammatory Drug Tocilizumab for Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell DiseaseDrugAdult and PediatricIn Process
Maternal HealthUniversity of LagosDr. AdejimiUsing N-Acetylcysteine to Treat Early-Onset Preeclampsia in NigeriaDrugAdultStarted 2025
Maternal HealthBusitema UniversityDr. MusabaUsing Sodium Bicarbonate to Reduce Maternal / Fetal Death from Acidosis During Obstructed Labor in Uganda
DrugAdult and PediatricStarted 2024
Maternal HealthBaylor Foundation MalawiDr. ShayoPreventing Prematurity with Xylitol in MalawiNutraceuticalAdult and PediatricStarted 2025
Metabolic DisorderUniversity of Nigeria Teaching HospitalDr. NnakenyiThe Effect of Metformin on Weight Loss in Non-Diabetic, Obese NigeriansDrugAdultStarted 2025
NeuroUniversity of California, Los AngelesDr. AckermanTesting a Repurposed Device to Improve the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Pain in WomenDeviceAdultIn Process
NeuroEdward Hines Jr VA Hospital and CARESDr. Bender Pape
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Using an Approved Depression Treatment to Restore Cognitive Function in Veterans with Mild TBI and PTSDDeviceAdultIn Process
NeuroAdvocate Health CareDr. BurekTesting a Low-Dose of the Hypertension Drug Clonidine for PTSD in VeteransDrugAdultIn Process
Neuro Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDr. BjorkDaily Rotigotine Patch to Enhance Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Use Disorder Recovery in Veterans
DrugAdultStarted 2024
NeuroUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillDr. LinnstaedtEstrogen to Prevent Chronic Pain and PTSD Following Sexual AssaultDrugAdultIn Process
NeuroUniversity of ZambiaDr. Zimba
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Testing an Antihypertensive Drug as an Add-On Therapy for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Patients in Zambia
DrugAdultIn Process
NeuroUniversity of Illinois ChicagoDr. AjiloreAdding an Antihistamine to Improve Outcomes in Depression
DrugAdultStarted 2024
NeuroUniversity of California, DavisDr. RussoUsing Fresh Frozen Plasma to Improve TBI Outcomes
BiologicAdultStarted 2025
Neuro/CardioUniversity of California, San FranciscoDr. Amorim - Researcher Spotlight available hereTesting the Epilepsy Drug Perampanel to Prevent Seizures After Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation *DrugAdultIn Process
Neuro/RareEdward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and CARESDr. KletzelImproving Cognitive Function in Veterans with Atypical Parkinsonism with rTMS Brain Stimulation
DeviceAdultStarted 2024
Neuro/Infectious DiseaseEmory University School of MedicineDr. McKenzie-Brown - Researcher Spotlight available hereAddressing Chronic Pain in HIV Patients with an Approved Addiction TreatmentDrugAdultIn Process
OncologyUniversity of PittsburghDr. DavarReducing Immune-Related Adverse Events by Adding Oral FMT to Solid Tumor Cancer Treatment
OtherAdultStarted 2024
OncologyUniversity of Illinois ChicagoDr. IbraheemUsing a Generic Drug Combination in Early-Stage Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Patients
DrugAdultIn Process
OncologyUniversity of Illinois ChicagoDr. ReizineGlycyrrhizin in Prostate Cancer: A Window-of-Opportunity Clinical Trial
NutraceuticalAdultStarted 2024
OncologyUniversity of Colorado, Anschutz Medical CampusDr. ShagisultanovaReducing Side Effects of Breast Cancer Treatments with Oxytocin
DrugAdultStarted 2024
OncologyUniversity of LagosDr. OkunadeTreating High-grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia with a Skin Cancer Drug in Nigeria
DrugAdultStarted 2025
Oncology/RareUniversity of California, IrvineDr. Fleischman - Researcher Spotlight available hereTreating a Group of Rare Blood Cancers, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, with N-Acetylcysteine *DrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareUniversity of MichiganDr. GhoshReducing CAR T-Cell Therapy Complications in Relapsed Lymphoma Patients by Adding Natalizumab
DrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterDr. Gordon
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Enhancing Treatment Response in Recurrent/Metastatic Osteosarcoma with Hydroxychloroquine *DrugPediatricIn Process
Oncology/RareLoyola University Medical CenterDr. Liotta
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Repurposing the Blood Pressure Drug Minoxidil for the Treatment of Recurrent Chemo-Resistant Ovarian and Other Gynecological CancersDrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareMuhimbili University Health and Allied SciencesDr. MalicheweTesting a Generic Drug Combination to Treat AML in Tanzania
DrugAdultStarted 2024
Oncology/RareUniversity College Hospital IbadanDr. Ntekim
- Researcher Spotlight available here
Adding the Antibiotic Clofazimine to Chemotherapy for Triple Negative Breast Cancer in NigeriaDrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterDr. OhanianAdding Metal Detoxification Drugs to Improve Childhood AML and Other Blood Cancer OutcomesDrugPediatricIn Process
Oncology/RareCity of HopeDr. Phillips - Researcher Spotlight available hereRepurposing Venetoclax and Glofitamab to Improve Patient Response in Mantle Cell LymphomaDrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareChildren’s Hospital of PhiladelphiaDr. Seif - Researcher Spotlight available herePreventing Relapse After Bone Marrow Transplant in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with a Personalized TreatmentDrug PediatricIn Process
Oncology/RareWashington University in St. LouisDr. SladeImproving Access to CAR T with Radiation in Relapsed / Refractory Multiple MyelomaDeviceAdultStarted 2025
Oncology/RareBrigham Young UniversityDr. WattTreating Anemia in Myelofibrosis with Nelfinavir
DrugAdultIn Process
Oncology/RareColorado State UniversityDr. ReganEvaluating an Approved Drug Combination Plus Immunotherapy in Canine Metastatic Osteosarcoma
DrugPre-ClinicalIn Process
RareChildren's National Research InstituteDr. Shur - Researcher Spotlight available hereUsing Steroids to Improve Rhabdomyolysis Outcomes in Pediatric PatientsDrugPediatricIn Process
Rare/Liver DiseaseVietnam National Children’s Hospital/Big Leap ResearchDr. Nguyen - Researcher Spotlight available hereImproving Outcomes for the Rare Liver Disease Biliary Atresia with a Cancer Drug in VietnamDrugPediatricIn Process
Rare/VascularStanford UniversityDr. Teng - Researcher Spotlight available hereTreating Vascular Malformations Using the Cancer Drug Trametinib *DrugPediatricIn Process

*CureAccelerator Live! winner