Genomic-informed, low-cost, portable test to rapidly identify drug-resistant bacterial infections
Official title: Genomic- informed development of a cheap, portable assay to rapidly profile drug-resistant bacterial infections
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11378811 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portable, affordable test called BADLOCK could quickly identify bacteria and resistance genes from blood samples to help treat drug-resistant infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $197,761 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI187322-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378811 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected or confirmed bloodstream infections caused by Enterobacterales, especially in settings with high antibiotic resistance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose infections are not caused by Enterobacterales or who do not require rapid diagnostics may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on BADLOCK, a CRISPR-based diagnostic tool designed to rapidly detect bacteria and antibiotic-resistance genes from blood cultures. It aims to understand how porin mutations contribute to resistance in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and to expand BADLOCK’s capabilities. By sequencing over 500 Peruvian bacterial isolates, the study will map porin mutations and improve the test so it works well in both rich and low-resource settings. The work focuses on making a fast, affordable diagnostic option that can guide timely and appropriate treatment for severe bloodstream infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could enable faster, more accurate treatment decisions for patients with drug-resistant infections.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest BADLOCK can detect common bacteria and resistance genes, with expansion plans built on this foundation.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roach, David Joseph — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Roach, David Joseph
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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.