Developing new antibiotics to fight resistant bacterial infections

Structure-based microbially targeted prodrugs

NIH-funded research Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-10898720

This study is working on new antibiotics to help fight tough infections caused by bacteria that don't respond to regular treatments, using special compounds that become active inside the bacteria to make them more effective.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10898720 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating new antibiotics specifically designed to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a serious bacterial threat. The approach involves using prodrugs, which are inactive compounds that become active within the bacteria, allowing for better cellular penetration and effectiveness. The researchers will study how these prodrugs can be selectively activated inside the bacteria and will use various assays to evaluate their performance. By understanding the structure-activity relationships, the goal is to optimize these new therapies for future clinical use.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not resistant to current antibiotics may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective antibiotics for treating resistant bacterial infections.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in developing prodrugs for antibiotic resistance, indicating a potential for success with this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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.