Discovering new antibacterial drugs from beneficial bacteria

Microbial Ecology-Guided Discovery of Antibacterial Drugs

NIH-funded research University of Utah · NIH-11010015

This study is looking for new antibiotics from friendly bacteria that live in animals, hoping to find safe and effective treatments for tough infections that don't respond to regular medicines.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Utah NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project IDNIH-11010015 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on identifying new antibacterial agents derived from symbiotic bacteria that live in animal hosts. By studying these bacteria, the project aims to find compounds that can effectively target harmful bacteria while being safe for human use. The approach involves cultivating these bacteria and analyzing the natural products they produce, which may have the potential to combat multidrug-resistant infections. The research seeks to improve the drug discovery process by ensuring that the compounds are selective and less toxic to humans.

Who could benefit from this research

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

Not a fit: Patients with infections that are not caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria 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 infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in discovering antibacterial agents from natural products, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Salt Lake City, 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.