Developing new drugs for African sleeping sickness
Multi-target approach to rational design of novel therapeutics for human African trypanosomiasis
This study is working on finding new and safer medicines to treat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) by focusing on specific parts of the parasites that are essential for their survival but not found in people, so that the new drugs can effectively kill the parasites without harming humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ahmadu Bello University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Zaria, Nigeria) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092801 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating safer and more effective treatments for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), a serious infectious disease prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. The approach involves identifying specific molecular targets in the parasites that are crucial for their survival but absent or different in humans. By blocking these targets, the researchers aim to develop novel drugs that can effectively kill the parasites. The study emphasizes the importance of targeting two key proteins involved in the parasites' energy metabolism to ensure successful treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with human African trypanosomiasis, particularly those in endemic regions.
Not a fit: Patients with other infectious diseases or those not affected by African sleeping sickness may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new, effective treatments for patients suffering from African sleeping sickness.
How similar studies have performed: While there have been efforts to develop treatments for HAT, this approach targeting specific molecular pathways is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Zaria, Nigeria
- Ahmadu Bello University — Zaria, Nigeria (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balogun, Emmanuel Oluwadare — Ahmadu Bello University
- Study coordinator: Balogun, Emmanuel Oluwadare
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 below.