CHIRI’s Dr Daniel Brown and Dr Hani Al-Salami have received funding to formulate tissue-targeting therapeutics for the treatment of Meniere’s disease.

USA-based research repurposing non-profit, Cures Within Reach, has awarded Curtin University $89,000 in funding for a research project led by Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) researchers working to formulate tissue-targeting therapeutics to treat the inner ear disorder Meniere’s disease.

With the disease increasingly common in older aged subjects, and in some people a consequence of drug therapies to treat other disorders, the research is being led by Dr Daniel Brown and Dr Hani Al-Salami from CHIRI’s Biotechnology and Drug Development Research Lab and Curtin’s School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.

“Treatments for Meniere’s disease and many other inner ear disorders normally include the application of corticosteroids to the inner ear,” said Daniel, who is one of the world’s leading scientists in Meniere’s disease.

“Unfortunately, the delivery of the corticosteroids to the inner ear is limited as a consequence of the structure of the ear canal, limiting their effectiveness.”

Using cutting-edge bio-nano technologies led by Hani’s team, together with Daniel’s comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying Meniere’s disease, the pair are working together to develop new drug formulation delivery systems that will more effectively treat substantive inflammation and fluid-related disorders of the inner ear, including Meniere’s disease.

The Cures Within Reach funding will be used to engage a post-doctorate researcher to work on the novel project at CHIRI and for purchasing consumables required for the research.