Copper's role at the bladder infection site and how it fights UTI
Official title: Copper at Host-Pathogen Interface During Urinary Tract Infection
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11367228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study exploring how copper in urine helps your body fight urinary tract infections caused by E. coli, with the goal of developing new ways to treat UTIs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 21, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,769 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DK142927-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11367228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with UTIs, especially those at risk for antibiotic-resistant infections, could benefit from future therapies developed from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Direct benefits are unlikely for people without UTIs or in unrelated infections; findings are foundational and may not translate immediately.
What this research studies
This project investigates how copper in urine acts as a natural defense against urinary tract infections and how it affects the bacteria that cause UTIs. Researchers will study copper homeostasis, ceruloplasmin, and copper-dependent antimicrobials in mouse models to understand how these factors may help clear infections. The work aims to identify strategies that enhance the body's own defenses to resolve UTIs without relying solely on traditional antibiotics. It builds on prior findings that copper participates in nutritional immunity during UTI and seeks to translate those insights into potential treatments. The study is conducted in a controlled research setting at Texas A&M AgriLife Research and involves animal models to uncover mechanisms that could inform human therapies in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new copper-based or copper-enhancing treatments that help people recover from UTIs more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows copper participates in protective responses against UTI in animals, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subashchandrabose, Sargurunathan — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Subashchandrabose, Sargurunathan
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.