DNA nanosensors and precision therapies for infections
Official title: DNA nanotechnology and synthetic biology for AI-supported detection and precision therapeutics
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11252304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to build DNA-based sensors and tiny, controllable therapeutics to help detect and treat bacterial and viral infections for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $389,653 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156250-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11252304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected bacterial or viral infections — including antibiotic-resistant infections or febrile viral illnesses — would be the most likely candidates for sample-based testing or future clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-infectious chronic conditions or illnesses unrelated to bacteria or viruses are unlikely to benefit from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint, researchers are creating tiny DNA structures and engineered biological reactions that can change color on a paper strip to signal an infection. They will combine isothermal amplification, CRISPR-Cas12a, toehold RNA switches, and in vitro translation with AI to read signals and improve detection. The team is also designing DNA nano-receptors and controllable RNA or small-molecule nanotherapeutics that could one day deliver more precise treatments. Most work is lab-based but is focused on making low-cost, point-of-care tools and targeted therapeutics for real infectious diseases like antibiotic-resistant bacteria and certain viruses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce fast, low-cost point-of-care tests and more precise treatment options that speed diagnosis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
How similar studies have gone: Related CRISPR-based and paper-strip nucleic acid tests have shown proof-of-concept success, but combining DNA nanotechnology, AI-enabled sensing, and programmable nanotherapeutics is a more novel approach.
Where this research is happening
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State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yigit, Mehmet Veysel — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Yigit, Mehmet Veysel
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.