Gallium treatment for cystic fibrosis patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria
Official title: A Phase 1b, Multi-center Study of IV Gallium Nitrate in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis who are colonized with Nontuberculosis Mycobacterium (The ABATE Study).
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11380360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-centered study tests whether IV gallium nitrate can help CF patients whose lungs are colonized by non-tuberculous mycobacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $762,029 |
| NIH project number | 5R01FD006848-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and eligible adolescents with cystic fibrosis and documented NTM lung infection, colonization by MAC or M. abscessus, and suitable organ function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without NTM infection or with contraindications to IV therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This multi-center Phase 1b study will enroll people with cystic fibrosis and NTM lung infections to see if IV gallium nitrate can safely reach and disrupt the bacteria by interfering with iron metabolism. The team will monitor safety, tolerability, and preliminary signals of effectiveness over a defined treatment period, using blood tests and lung cultures to track outcomes. The goal is to open a path to more effective, less toxic options for MAC and M. abscessus infections in CF if gallium proves feasible. The approach is based on the concept of using gallium like a “Trojan horse” to weaken the bacteria’s iron use without relying on long, harsh drug regimens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could offer a new option that may improve lung infection control and reduce treatment-related toxicity for CF patients with NTM.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports gallium as a potential antibacterial strategy, but this is an early-phase study to explore safety and initial signals in CF-related NTM.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goss, Christopher Hooper — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Goss, Christopher Hooper
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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.