Better tests to find syphilis in pregnant people and newborns
Official title: A Triad Approach Towards Improved Diagnostics for Maternal and Congenital Syphilis
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11167820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing new, faster molecular and microbiome-based tests to detect syphilis in pregnant people and newborns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | August 12, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $237,782 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI185965-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people at risk for syphilis and newborns exposed at birth or showing signs of infection would be the ideal candidates for participation.
✕Less likely to help
People without suspected syphilis exposure, those already treated and cleared, or cases where late-stage infection is only detectable by other means may not get direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
We will collect vaginal fluid and other samples from pregnant people and newborns to look for Treponema pallidum and related microbiome signals that could mark infection. The team will use PCR and immunoassay methods and compare these sample types to standard blood and swab testing. The work focuses on finding samples that give clearer results when routine blood tests miss latent infections. If successful, the goal is easier, faster diagnostics that can be used in clinics to help get mothers and babies treated sooner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tests could enable quicker and more accurate diagnosis so pregnant people and newborns get timely treatment and fewer babies suffer birth complications.
How similar studies have gone: PCR and molecular tests detect syphilis well in early symptomatic cases but perform poorly in late-stage blood samples, so using vaginal fluids and microbiome markers is a relatively new approach that has not yet been widely proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bhadra, Sanchita — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Bhadra, Sanchita
Related research
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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.