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The objective of this project was to further the development of NIMoEsh, a peptide that is a potential clinical candidate for the treatment of ischemic stroke. There are currently no agents that provide effective neuroprotection for the damage associated with stroke. Every year, approximately 800,000 patients in the US suffer a stroke, and about 144,000 of those people die from stroke. In addition, a significant number of patients are left permanently disabled and represent a considerable burden to the healthcare system. This group has identified a novel and specific stress?induced interaction between two proteins which, when blocked, results in neuroprotection under conditions of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The 10 amino acid peptide that blocks this interaction in vitro and preserves the life of the cells is called NiMoEsh. The group showed that the therapeutic peptide, and/or its metabolites, accumulate rapidly and to significant levels in the brain of rats after intravenous administration. Progress on the evaluation of the efficacy of the peptide have been hindered by the technically challenging nature of the surgical model of ischemic stroke being employed. The project could not achieve efficacy in ischemia model and was discontinued.