AMPP-coated Catheters to Fight CAUTI with Targeted Antimicrobial Peptides
Official title: AMPP Foley Catheters: Pathogen-Activated Antimicrobial Peptides for CAUTI Prevention
Funded at Rowan University · NIH-11446169 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new catheter coating uses pathogen-activated peptides to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections by targeting disease-causing bacteria while preserving helpful urinary microbes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rowan University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Glassboro, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $193,750 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI202414-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11446169 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals requiring urinary catheterization and at risk for CAUTI, including hospitalized patients.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not needing catheters or those with non-bacterial infections may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create catheter coatings with protease-activated antimicrobial peptides that stay inactive until they meet bacteria like uropathogenic E. coli. The approach reduces biofilm formation and concentrates antimicrobial activity at the infection site. Researchers will design, test, and optimize these AMPPs and compare their performance to traditional antibiotics in laboratory settings, followed by in vivo testing in mice. The goal is a catheter option that prevents CAUTI without disturbing the beneficial urinary microbiome.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with catheters could experience fewer CAUTI episodes and better preservation of their natural urinary bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous antibiotic-coated catheters have not consistently prevented CAUTI and can disrupt the microbiome, making this AMPP approach a potentially superior option.
Where this research is happening
-
Rowan University
Glassboro, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vega, Sebastian L. — Rowan University
- Study coordinator: Vega, Sebastian L.
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.