A team of researchers led by Kathleen Caron investigating new therapeutic approaches for treating debilitating migraines in women is the first in the School of Medicine to receive a prestigious Sprint for Women’s Health Award.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Sprint for Women’s Health award funds research that addresses critical unmet challenges in women’s health, champions transformative innovations, and tackles health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women. A team of researchers led by Kathleen Caron, the Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, will receive $3 million in funding over two years through the Sprint for Women’s Health spark track for early-stage research investigating “Female Lymphatic GPCR Therapeutics for Migraine Treatment” (FLyGT).
The team brings together an interdisciplinary approach to illuminate the genetic and pharmacological differences in meningeal lymphatics between the sexes. With co-investigators Mark Zylka, Bryan Roth, and Ben Philpot, the FLyGT team will use forward genetic screens and innovative drug target discovery to define new avenues for migraine treatment. Clinical studies facilitated by cutting-edge brain imaging with Mark Shen and Yen-Yu Ian Shih will evaluate whether some types of anti-migraine medications might be beneficial in maintaining lymphatic function during migraine.
“Migraine is a debilitating and chronic condition,” said Caron. “Defining new and better treatment strategies that target the meningeal lymphatics will lead to a better quality of life and overall brain health for women who suffer from migraine.”
ARPA-H sought solutions within six topics of interest in women’s health and received an unprecedented response of submissions. ARPA-H launched the Sprint for Women’s Health in February, with First Lady Jill Biden announcing the funding as the first major deliverable from the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
The ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health is conducted in collaboration with the Investor Catalyst Hub of ARPANET-H, the agency’s nationwide health innovation network that connects people, innovators, and institutions to accelerate better health outcomes for everyone. The lead study researchers will work with an ARPA-H Program Manager and the Investor Catalyst Hub over two years to develop their proposed solution, receiving milestone-based payments aligned to research activities and performance objectives.
Read the press release from the UNC School of Medicine here!