CounterACT Center for Excellence (NUCCX)
Sulfur mustard (SM) is one of the most important chemical threats with a devastating impact on human health. Despite its ruinous history for over 100 years, there are inadequate countermeasures to treat the acute and late effects of the chemical agent.
To facilitate our understanding and treatment of SM injury of the skin and eyes, the Northwestern University CounterAct Center of Excellence (NUCCX) leverages research findings from successful Northwestern University investigations related to wound repair and inflammation by taking them into a clinical setting. This program unites an interdisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians across 7 NU departments within the Feinberg Medical School and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Information generated from this clinical research will improve patient care to those suffering from SM injury.
Research
The NUCCX, with its 12 senior research scientists, encompasses 7 University departments within the Feinberg Medical School and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Information generated through the NUCCX will improve patient care to those suffering from Sulfur Mustard (SM) injury. To accomplish this goal, the NUCCX has the following Research Projects and Cores:
- Topical and Systemic Interventions for Mustard-induced Skin Injury (Project 1);
- Reversing the Ocular Impact of NM and SM Through Novel Therapies (Project 2);
- Translation and Trials: Advancing Medical Countermeasure Development (Project 3);
- Administrative Core (Core A);
- Lipid-Based Materials Synthesis and Characterization Core (Core B);
- Polymeric Materials Synthesis and Characterization Core (Core C);
- Education and Enrichment Core (Core D).