Harvard program to find new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections
Harvard-wide Program on Antibiotic Resistance
This project uses advanced lab techniques to find new treatments for drug-resistant staph and enterococcus infections that commonly make hospital patients sick.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11299014 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This Harvard-wide program brings together clinicians, biologists, mathematicians, and engineers to look for weak spots in antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus and Enterococcus bacteria. Teams use high-throughput mutation studies, comparative genomics, microfluidics, and single-cell time-lapse imaging to see how individual bacteria respond to potential drugs. They run innovative screening tests to prioritize compounds that are most likely to work and be safe. For patients, the goal is to turn detailed lab discoveries into new treatments that could eventually be used in hospitals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be hospital patients with confirmed or suspected multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus or Enterococcus infections, or people willing to provide clinical samples for research.
Not a fit: People with infections unrelated to staphylococci or enterococci, or anyone seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than contributing samples or participating in research, may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new medicines or treatment strategies that better stop or cure dangerous hospital infections that no longer respond to current antibiotics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work using high-throughput genomics and mutation mapping has produced important insights into bacterial weaknesses, but converting those findings into new approved treatments remains an ongoing challenge.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilmore, Michael S — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Gilmore, Michael S
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 below.