Discovering new antibiotics from soil microbes using DNA-based methods
Official title: Discovery of Antibiotics from Soil Microbiomes Using Metagenomics
Funded at Rockefeller University · NIH-11394620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how bacteria from soil can yield new antibiotic compounds by studying environmental DNA without needing to grow the organisms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $678,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM122559-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with bacterial infections, especially those resistant to current antibiotics, could ultimately benefit from new drugs discovered through this approach.
✕Less likely to help
This grant's basic discovery work may not directly benefit patients in the short term but could contribute to future therapies.
What this research studies
This project uses metagenomics to access bacterial natural products that are hidden in uncultured microbes. DNA is directly extracted from environmental samples and cloned into easy-to-grow hosts to uncover new antibiotic candidates. The approach aims to bypass traditional culturing steps and reveal diverse, novel molecules that could become medicines. The work is led by Sean F. Brady at Rockefeller University and focuses on translating microbial diversity into potential therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new antibiotic candidates to treat bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: Other metagenomic strategies have revealed previously unknown natural products, suggesting potential for novel antibiotics but the field is still actively evolving.
Where this research is happening
-
Rockefeller University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brady, Sean F — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Brady, Sean F
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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.