Niagara University Receives New York State Biodefense Award to Develop Novel Anti-Viral Therapy

Niagara University has been selected to receive a grant from the New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund. The award of nearly $261,500 will be used to formulate a general anti-viral therapeutic using Cholestosome^TM technology, a molecule delivery system developed at Niagara by Dr. Mary McCourt, professor of chemistry. It was one of just three academic institutions to receive awards, which included Columbia University and Mt. Sinai Medical School.

"Niagara University is committed to supporting innovative and groundbreaking research in our laboratories, and this award is an exciting step forward in our efforts to solve healthcare problems locally and globally," said the Rev. James Maher, C.M., Niagara University president. "This award will advance Dr. McCourt's critical research in the development of effective treatments against viral diseases and support our commitment to scientific innovation. We are very grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight, and the entire Biodefense Fund committee for this incredible opportunity."

The project aims to use Cholestosome^TM technology to circumvent the body's regulation of zinc, allowing intracellular concentrations capable of effecting a general antiviral response, positively impacting patient outcomes in response to pathogen infections and increasing preparedness for future viral outbreaks or pandemics.

The work will be done in Niagara University's Biomedical Research Institute on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Dr. McCourt will lead a team of researchers that also includes students Morgan Hildreth, Michael Trapasso, Kathyrn Bednarz, Sarah Waldmiller, and Isabella Nakhla.

"These students will have the opportunity to work on solving problems that directly impact people," said Dr. McCourt. "They will see first-hand how important scientific discovery is, how powerful it can be, and what it's like in a 'real world' lab where every day is a fight to find a cure."

Dr. McCourt, who has been a member of NU's faculty since 1999, holds 14 patents for the Cholestosome^TM technology, which is moving toward commercialization. Her critical expert areas include computational chemistry and molecular modeling, cancer-targeted drug design, and structural biology with emphasis on lipids. Her main areas of research are the development of Cholestosome^TM technology and urine-based biomarker analysis for diagnostic screens focused on breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. McCourt was the recipient of the Schoellkopf Medal in 2020 and is the holder of the Michael, '60, and Aimee Kakos Endowed Chair of Chemistry.

The Biodefense Commercialization Fund program was created to accelerate the development and commercialization of life science innovations that address serious infectious disease threats, including COVID-19 and its variants, while also creating jobs and encouraging continued growth across New York's expanding life science industry.

"To protect the health of New Yorkers and future generations, we are ensuring New York state is a leader in cutting-edge infectious disease discovery," New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said when announcing the four total awards. "These awards will continue to attract significant jobs and investments so we can continue building the strongest life science ecosystem in the nation."