A blood test to quickly diagnose melioidosis
Official title: A plasma proteomic diagnostic for melioidosis
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11618812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new blood-based test using a small set of proteins aims to quickly identify melioidosis in patients who are seriously ill
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $49,680 |
| NIH project number | 3R21AI186381-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11618812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients hospitalized with infection in settings where melioidosis is a concern, particularly in endemic regions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections not caused by melioidosis or those not presenting with the protein signature may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a blood protein signature to distinguish melioidosis from other infections in patients admitted with infection, potentially reducing delays caused by traditional culture methods. It builds on prior work with plasma proteins and a case-control analysis within a broader sepsis study to test a minimal eight-protein signature. If successful, the test could provide faster, non-culture-based diagnosis in settings with limited microbiology infrastructure. The study is conducted at a single center with plans to validate the approach for broader use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for melioidosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preliminary studies showed high accuracy of the eight-protein signature in distinguishing melioidosis from other infections.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: West, Timothy Eoin — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: West, Timothy Eoin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Making genetic testing more accessible to the public
This study is all about making it easier for people at risk of certain cancers, like breast, ovarian, and colon cancers, to get genetic testing, so we can find out what helps them access these important services and understand how they can benefit from them.
-
Breast cancer diagnosis in low-resource settings using millifluidics and fast digital imaging in Ghana
A new project will test a fast, low-cost way to diagnose breast cancer at the point of care in Ghana using small-batch fluidics and direct digital imaging.
-
Binaural Hearing and Speech in Noise in Children
This project explores how children hear speech in noisy classrooms using how the two ears work together to see if binaural processing differences explain why some kids struggle more than others.
-
Neural circuits that control pain aversion in the brain
Researchers are exploring how a specific brain area helps people feel and avoid pain, with potential to lead to better pain treatments.
-
United World Antiviral Research Network (UWARN)
A collaborative, international effort is testing new virus surveillance and evolution ideas to help people living with HIV and communities in LMICs stay safer from current and emerging viruses.
-
HF endotypes in heart failure using ethical multi-modal AI and molecular data
A patient-friendly project that uses advanced AI and multiple kinds of health data to identify distinct heart failure subtypes that could guide personalized care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.