Early-Stage Tech to Measure Fungal Activity in Vaginal Samples
Official title: Early-Stage Technology Development to Enable Rigorous and Reproducible Fungal Metatranscriptomics in Human Vaginal Samples
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11363394 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small NIH-funded project aims to develop a new method to reliably measure fungal activity directly in vaginal samples from people with fungal infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | June 8, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $255,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI199901-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11363394 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with vulvovaginal candidiasis or recurrent VVC, and those undergoing clinical assessment for vaginal fungal infections.
✕Less likely to help
People without vaginal fungal infections or those not providing clinical samples may not benefit from this technology.
What this research studies
This project focuses on making fungal RNA easier to detect in human vaginal samples so doctors can understand how fungi behave during infections like vulvovaginal candidiasis. By creating a technology that can quantify both fungal and human gene activity in real patient samples, researchers hope to distinguish when Candida is causing illness versus harmless colonization. The study will test and refine methods on clinical specimens to ensure results are accurate and reproducible. If successful, this approach could lead to better diagnostics and more targeted treatments for women affected by recurrent infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate diagnoses and more effective, personalized treatments for vaginal fungal infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has highlighted the need for direct measurement of fungal activity in human samples, and this project builds on that groundwork with a new approach aimed at improving accuracy and reproducibility.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ismagilov, Rustem F — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Ismagilov, Rustem 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.