A new platform for discovering antimicrobial treatments
Official title: GUARD: A global unbiased antimicrobial discovery platform
Funded at Texas Engineering Experiment Station · NIH-10974036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new system called GUARD to find natural treatments that can help fight infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which could lead to better options for patients dealing with these tough infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Engineering Experiment Station NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | November 7, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $726,867 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI168685-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10974036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel system called GUARD, which aims to discover new antimicrobial compounds to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. By utilizing a microfluidic platform, the project will screen environmental microbes for natural products that can either kill pathogens or enhance the body's immune response. The approach allows for high-throughput testing at a single-cell level, significantly improving the efficiency of identifying effective treatments against resistant infections. Patients may benefit from new therapies that could effectively treat infections caused by resistant bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antimicrobial treatments that are effective against antibiotic-resistant infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in developing novel antimicrobial agents using innovative screening methods, indicating that this approach could yield successful outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Engineering Experiment Station
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jayaraman, Arul — Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- Study coordinator: Jayaraman, Arul
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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.