Designing new antibiotics to combat antibiotic resistance

Computational de novo design of macrocyclic type I Signal Peptidase inhibitors

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-10889835

This study is working on creating new antibiotics to help fight stubborn infections that don't respond to current treatments, using smart computer techniques to target a key part of bacteria that helps them survive.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-10889835 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing new antibiotics to address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. By using advanced computational methods, including deep learning and high-throughput chemical synthesis, the team aims to create inhibitors targeting a specific bacterial enzyme called type I signal peptidase. This enzyme is crucial for the proper functioning of many bacteria, and the research will explore how to design effective inhibitors that can work against a broad range of bacterial strains. Patients may benefit from new antibiotic treatments that are effective against resistant infections.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Not a fit: Patients with infections that are already effectively treated by existing antibiotics may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antibiotics that are effective against antibiotic-resistant infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using computational methods to design new antibiotics, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.