Beta-hairpin antimicrobial peptides as antifungal agents
Funded at University of Missouri Kansas City · NIH-11356580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project tests tiny, ring-shaped antimicrobial peptides to fight fungi like Candida and Aspergillus in a way that could lead to new antifungal drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Missouri Kansas City NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $401,089 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199664-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with fungal infections, including those caused by Candida species or Aspergillus fumigatus, could ultimately benefit from new therapies derived from this work.
✕Less likely to help
This early-stage research may not directly benefit patients until later development and clinical testing.
What this research studies
This project uses computer-based screening and synthetic biology to find and optimize small cyclic peptides that can kill fungi. Researchers will build a large dataset of peptide variants and use machine learning to predict which ones are potent and safe. The goal is to identify promising lead compounds that could become new antifungal treatments for infections caused by fungi such as Candida and Aspergillus fumigatus.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could yield new antifungal candidates with novel mechanisms to help patients with fungal infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows antifungal activity from β-AMPs and computational approaches can identify promising candidates, but clinical translation remains ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Randall, Justin Roy — University of Missouri Kansas City
- Study coordinator: Randall, Justin Roy
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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.