Identifying pathogens and their antibiotic resistance directly from blood samples

Changing Cultures in Sepsis: Rapid single-cell pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing directly from whole blood

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10850916

This study is working on a new, quick way to find out what germs are causing sepsis directly from your blood, so doctors can diagnose and treat you faster and more accurately.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10850916 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis, a life-threatening condition often caused by bloodstream infections. It aims to develop a rapid, microfluidic system that can detect and identify pathogens directly from whole blood without the need for amplification. By using advanced techniques like multispectral barcoding and nanotube-assisted microwave electroporation, the study seeks to classify pathogens and assess their susceptibility to antibiotics at a single-cell level. This approach could significantly reduce the time it takes to diagnose infections and determine the appropriate treatment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients presenting with symptoms of sepsis or suspected bloodstream infections.

Not a fit: Patients with non-infectious causes of sepsis or those who do not have bloodstream infections may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis of sepsis, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing mortality rates.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in rapid pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing, but this specific approach using microfluidics and single-cell analysis is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.