NCInnovation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to unlocking the innovative potential of North Carolina’s public universities, recently approved $10 million in research funding to support 13 projects across eleven institutions within the UNC System. Among the funded initiatives is a project led by a faculty member from the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, whose groundbreaking research has demonstrated strong commercial promise and the potential to stimulate job creation and economic growth throughout the state.
Dr. Kerui Wu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nanoscience, is leading a project focused on developing a precision drug-delivery platform designed to target macrophages. This innovative approach aims to improve the treatment of inflammatory and immune-related diseases while minimizing systemic side effects. Working in collaboration with Dr. Jerald Dumas (Department of Nanoengineering), UNC Chapel Hill, and ATLAS Industries of High Point, North Carolina, the research team will translate this technology into consumer-ready applications such as bandages and creams. The team will also evaluate its performance using advanced in vitro and in vivo wound-healing models.