Designing new proteins to improve drug delivery and effectiveness
Official title: Probing the Rules of Protein Structure-Function Relationships through the De Novo Design of Functional Proteins
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11033951 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on developing new proteins that can safely deliver helpful treatments directly to the right spots in the body, which could lead to better and safer options for people dealing with bacterial infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $124,767 |
| NIH project number | 1K99GM157551-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11033951 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from bacterial infections who may benefit from advanced therapeutic approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-bacterial infections or those who do not respond to peptide-based therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating new proteins that can effectively deliver therapeutic agents, specifically cell penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides, to targeted areas in the body. By designing proteins that respond to specific environmental cues, the project aims to enhance the stability and tissue specificity of these therapeutic agents, which are often limited in their effectiveness. The approach involves using advanced techniques like molecular dynamics simulations and generative models to ensure that these proteins can be precisely engineered for optimal performance in treating bacterial infections. Patients may benefit from improved treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for bacterial infections through better-targeted drug delivery systems.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using engineered proteins for targeted drug delivery, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in the field.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schnaider, Lee — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Schnaider, Lee
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.