Improving diagnosis of infectious diseases using advanced PCR technology
Official title: Next Generation Infectious Disease Diagnostics: Microfluidic-Free Gigapixel PCR with Self-Assembled Partitioning
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11082439 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new way to quickly and accurately identify different germs that cause infections, so patients can get the right treatment faster and with fewer unnecessary tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $617,550 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176829-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11082439 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing symptoms of infectious diseases that require precise diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are already well-characterized and do not require advanced diagnostic methods may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new diagnostic method for infectious diseases that can accurately identify multiple pathogens simultaneously. By utilizing digital PCR (dPCR), the approach aims to provide precise measurements of pathogen concentrations, which is crucial for determining the actual cause of infections. Unlike traditional methods that often yield false positives, this technique enhances diagnostic accuracy and reduces the need for additional testing. Patients will benefit from faster and more reliable diagnoses, leading to more effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and timely diagnoses of infectious diseases, improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using digital PCR for pathogen detection, indicating that this approach could be a significant advancement in diagnostics.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abate, Adam R. — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Abate, Adam R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Latin American Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance and Readiness
A regional collaboration in Peru and neighboring countries aims to strengthen early warning and monitoring for viruses that could jump from animals to people, helping communities prepare for outbreaks.
-
Center in Latin America to monitor emerging infectious diseases
A U01 grant supporting a collaboration between Peruvian and U.S. researchers to improve early detection and surveillance of regionally relevant viruses that could affect people, animals, and crops in Peru and neighboring areas.
-
Acanthamoeba as a modern model parasite to study infectious disease biology and mitochondria
A five-year project will define the mitochondrial proteins and pathways of Acanthamoeba castellanii to advance infectious disease biology and parasite metabolism.
-
IDEAL project helps predict vaccine response, infections, and asthma in early childhood
A Child-focused program will collect and share saliva, blood, and tissue samples from diverse infants to find biological patterns that predict how vaccines work, how respiratory infections occur, and who develops asthma.
-
Understanding how early-life immune development affects vaccine responses and asthma risk in children
This project uses lab-grown human immune cells from infants and young children to explore why some kids respond poorly to vaccines and are more prone to respiratory infections and asthma.
-
Multi-omic endotypes of vaccine response, respiratory infections, and asthma in children
A parent-friendly look at how early-life immune development shapes how kids respond to vaccines and stay free from lung infections and asthma, using advanced biological profiling.
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.