Exploring natural products to discover new drugs using big data analysis.
Official title: Accessing and Expanding Natural Products Chemical Diversity by Big-data Analysis and Biosynthetic Investigation
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-10907760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new natural substances that could be turned into medicines by exploring genetic information, which might lead to new treatments that could help patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $315,897 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150565-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907760 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 could be treated by novel drugs derived from natural products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not seeking new treatment options or those with conditions not addressed by natural product-derived medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on uncovering new bioactive natural products that can be developed into drugs. By analyzing vast amounts of genetic data, the team aims to identify previously overlooked gene clusters that could produce unique compounds. The approach combines advanced informatics with biosynthetic investigations to connect these gene clusters to their potential products, ultimately expanding the diversity of available natural products for drug discovery. Patients may benefit from new medications derived from these discoveries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new and effective medications derived from previously untapped natural products.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in utilizing big data and biosynthetic investigations to discover new natural products, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jie — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Li, Jie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how altered citric acid cycle fuels may help kids and adults with Complex I mitochondrial disease
A small study will look at how changes in the citric acid cycle and a molecule called 2-HG affect people with Complex I–related mitochondrial disease, to identify potential new treatment strategies.
-
Confidential social network referrals to boost HIV testing
A new approach uses anonymous mobile-text referrals to encourage people at risk to get HIV tested.
-
How brain cells move and translate messages to stay healthy in Alzheimer’s and related dementias
A study to understand how RNA binding proteins affect the way brain cells transport and translate messages, which may influence Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
-
Adolescent neurobehavioral outcomes after early nutrition: follow-up of a Bangladeshi trial
This project follows up on children who received nutrient-rich supplements in early life to see how it affects their brain development and behavior during adolescence.
-
Adolescent neurobehavioral outcomes after early-life nutrition in a Bangladeshi cohort
This project follows up teens who were part of an early-life nutrition trial to see how their development and behavior look years later.
-
Brain-boosting blood pressure pathways as a treatment to prevent and treat HAND in aging people with HIV
This research tests whether medicines that affect the brain’s blood-vessel system can protect brain cells and reduce inflammation in people aging with HIV who have cognitive problems.
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.