Center accelerating antibiotic development for high-threat bacterial infections
Official title: Center for accelerated development of drug candidates targeting high threat bacterial infections
Funded at Hackensack University Medical Center · NIH-11372864 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research center in academia–industry collaboration is speeding up the development of new antibiotics to fight highly resistant bacteria so patients have better treatment options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hackensack University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hackensack, United States) |
| Project start | June 20, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $7,562,521 |
| NIH project number | 5U19AI189168-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372864 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with high-threat, drug-resistant infections who may be eligible for future clinical trials or receive improved therapies stemming from successful drug candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without antibiotic-resistant infections or those not qualifying for future trials may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a translational drug accelerator inside an academic medical center to move promising antibacterial compounds from early research into preclinical development. It brings together experienced drug developers from academia and pharma to advance mature small-molecule programs toward IND submissions for clinical testing. The effort targets high-threat pathogens such as drug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that cause serious infections in hospital and community settings. By streamlining preclinical work and fostering collaboration, the center aims to deliver clinically viable drug candidates faster.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with resistant infections could benefit from new antibiotic options reaching clinical trials and, eventually, approved therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior collaborations between academia and industry have advanced several antibacterial candidates toward clinical testing, with variable success in IND submissions.
Where this research is happening
-
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Perlin, David S — Hackensack University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Perlin, David S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Host-Directed Orynotide for MDR Gram-Negative Infections
A new drug candidate called Orynotide MTD12813 is being developed to treat serious drug-resistant infections caused by bacteria like Acinetobacter and Enterobacteriaceae.
-
Genomic-informed, low-cost, portable test to rapidly identify drug-resistant bacterial infections
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Novel BMX antibiotics for tough Gram-negative infections
A new class of BMX antibiotics is being developed to fight hard-to-treat Gram-negative infections like Acinetobacter baumannii in patients.
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Center to speed up antibacterial drugs for hard-to-treat infections
A national center at Hackensack University Medical Center aims to speed up the development of new antibiotics to fight high-threat, drug-resistant bacterial infections.
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PACC1 in the body’s defense against bacterial infections and sepsis
A study exploring how a protein called PACC1 helps immune cells fight bacteria and prevent sepsis, with potential benefits for people at risk of severe infections.
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Comparative safety of antibiotics for common infections in pregnancy
This project looks at which antibiotics are safest for babies when used to treat common infections in pregnant women.
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.