A new electric treatment for chronic wound infections
Official title: A novel electric current-based treatment system for chronic wound biofilm infections
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-10883636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help people with stubborn chronic wounds caused by tough bacteria, using gentle electric currents to improve treatment and make healing easier and safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | July 7, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $448,028 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034806-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds, particularly those complicated by biofilm infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute wounds or those not affected by biofilm infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel treatment system that uses electric currents to target chronic wound infections caused by biofilm bacteria. These infections are notoriously difficult to treat with standard antibiotics, leading to prolonged suffering and complications for patients. The approach aims to enhance the delivery of antimicrobial agents while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. By focusing on engineering innovations, the research seeks to provide a more effective and safer solution for patients with chronic wounds.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve healing rates for patients with chronic wounds and reduce the need for amputations.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in biofilm treatment technologies, this specific electric current-based approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhao, Siwei — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Zhao, Siwei
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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.