Creating new bacterial viruses to fight antibiotic resistance
Official title: AN ADAPTIVE FRAMEWORK TO SYNTHESIZE AND RECONFIGURE BACTERIAL VIRUSES (PHAGES) TO COUNTER ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11033792 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to create and adjust viruses that can target and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which could offer patients a helpful alternative to traditional antibiotics for treating tough infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $128,461 |
| NIH project number | 1K99EB036553-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11033792 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method to create and modify bacterial viruses, known as phages, to effectively treat infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The approach involves decompressing phage genomes to allow for more flexible engineering and rapid synthesis of these viruses using a cell-free system. By doing so, the researchers aim to enhance the scalability and accessibility of phage therapy, making it a viable treatment option for various drug-resistant infections. Patients may benefit from this innovative therapy as it could provide effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for infections that are currently difficult to manage due to antibiotic resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using phage therapy for antibiotic-resistant infections, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Yan — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Yan
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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.