Finding new drugs to treat schistosomiasis
Official title: Drug Target Discovery, Validation, and Prioritization for Schistosomiasis
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-10986999 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for new ways to treat schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms, by finding important proteins in the worms that could be targeted with better medications, which means patients could have more effective treatment options in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | December 20, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $819,288 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167967-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986999 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living in endemic areas who are at risk of schistosomiasis infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk of schistosomiasis or those who have already been effectively treated with existing therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on discovering and validating new drug targets for schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms that affects millions of people worldwide. The team is using advanced techniques, including RNA interference, to identify essential proteins in the adult schistosome that could be targeted by new medications. By overcoming the limitations of current treatments, the research aims to develop more effective therapies that can combat drug-resistant strains of the parasite. Patients may benefit from improved treatment options that are more effective against various stages of the parasite's life cycle.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new and more effective treatments for schistosomiasis, improving health outcomes for affected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing new treatments for parasitic infections, indicating that innovative approaches like this may lead to significant advancements.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Collins, James J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Collins, James J
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.