Exploring how marine animals create unique chemicals for biomedical use
Official title: Symbiosis and Chemical Diversity Generation
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11002318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how marine animals and their helpful bacteria create special chemicals that could lead to new medicines, with the hope of finding new treatments for patients in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $486,266 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM148283-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11002318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals with conditions that may be treated by novel drugs derived from marine natural products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions that do not respond to chemical compounds or those not related to the biomedical applications of marine-derived substances may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research investigates the ways in which marine animals and their symbiotic bacteria produce a variety of chemical compounds that could be beneficial for medicine. By focusing on discovering new biosynthetic pathways, the project aims to identify biomedically important substances that can lead to new drug discoveries. The research combines hypothesis-driven exploration with synthetic biology techniques to harness the chemical diversity found in the ocean, which remains largely unexplored. Patients may benefit from new therapies derived from these unique compounds as the research progresses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of innovative therapies derived from unique marine compounds.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in discovering therapeutics from marine organisms, indicating a promising avenue for further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidt, Eric W — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Schmidt, Eric W
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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.