How Bacteria Take In Medicines
Official title: Probing How Living Bacterial Membranes Control Small Molecule Uptake
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11121897 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research helps us understand how bacteria absorb medicines like antibiotics, which could lead to better treatments for infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $357,073 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM142928-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11121897 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who currently suffer from bacterial infections, especially those that are hard to treat due to antibiotic resistance, could ultimately benefit from this foundational work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not caused by bacterial infections or who do not require antibiotic treatment would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
We are looking closely at the outer layers of living bacteria to see how they control what small molecules, including antibiotics, can enter. By using special light-based tools, we can watch these processes in real-time on actual bacterial cells, not just lab models. Our goal is to discover the key factors that influence how antibiotics stick to and move through bacterial membranes. This knowledge will help us understand why some antibiotics work and others don't, and how to design new ones that are more effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new and more effective antibiotics, helping patients fight difficult bacterial infections.
How similar studies have gone: This research uses advanced techniques to explore bacterial membrane interactions in a novel way, aiming to provide new insights for antibiotic development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Calhoun, Tessa Rae — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Calhoun, Tessa Rae
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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.