Discovering new natural products from fungi for better medicines
Official title: Discovering novel natural products from fungal species
Funded at Chemia Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11407073 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funding-supported project uses computer and lab tools to find new antimicrobial compounds made by fungi that could become the antibiotics of tomorrow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chemia Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $958,339 |
| NIH project number | 2R44GM154504-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11407073 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; potential benefits may arise from future drugs identified through this platform, applicable to patients with resistant infections.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is required for this grant.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a computational platform that links fungal genes to the actual chemical products they produce, using genome mining and high-throughput mass spectrometry. By focusing on fungal natural products, the team aims to uncover unfamiliar compounds that could combat resistant infections. The work builds on prior metabolomics research and will extend methods to a clinically important drug class, with the goal of speeding discovery while reducing repeated findings. If successful, this approach could point toward new antibiotics for treating serious infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain access to novel antifungal or antibacterial agents that help treat resistant infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in metabolomics and genome mining has shown promise in linking genes to useful natural products, but the fungal focus is expanding this approach.
Where this research is happening
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Chemia Biosciences, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Behsaz, Bahar — Chemia Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Behsaz, Bahar
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.