Improving treatments for tuberculosis using multiple drugs
Official title: Optimizing Multi-drug Mycobacterium tuberculosis Therapy for Rapid Sterilization and Resistance Suppression
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11010330 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for the best combinations of medicines to help treat tuberculosis more effectively, especially for patients with a lot of bacteria in their system, by testing these combinations in mice to see how well they work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | January 25, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,324,774 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173238-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010330 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with tuberculosis, especially those with high bacterial loads.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis who do not respond to current treatment regimens may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on optimizing combinations of multiple drugs to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) more effectively. By using advanced algorithms and mathematical models, the team aims to identify the best drug combinations that can rapidly kill the bacteria and prevent resistance from developing. The research involves testing these combinations in various models, including mice, to ensure they work effectively in different metabolic states of the bacteria. Patients with high bacterial loads may particularly benefit from these optimized regimens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective tuberculosis treatments that reduce the time to recovery and lower the risk of drug resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in optimizing drug combinations for tuberculosis, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Drusano, George Louis — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Drusano, George Louis
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coronary disease and immune activation in people with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection
This research looks at how having HIV and latent tuberculosis together might raise the risk of heart disease, and what immune changes are involved.
-
Pulmonary rehabilitation to reduce breathing problems after tuberculosis
A program of guided exercise and breathing training to help adults who have recovered from TB breathe better and feel healthier.
-
Pulmonary rehab to reduce breathing troubles after TB
A program of pulmonary rehabilitation is being studied to help adults who have completed TB treatment avoid ongoing lung problems and improve daily breathing.
-
Air pollution and tuberculosis spread in Kampala, Uganda
This project looks at whether dirty air from PM2.5 particles makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within urban slum households in Kampala, Uganda.
-
Air pollution and TB spread in Ugandan urban slums
This project explores whether exposure to air pollution makes tuberculosis more likely to spread within households in a crowded Ugandan slum.
-
Air pollution and TB transmission in Kampala’s urban slums
This project looks at whether air pollution from PM2.5 makes tuberculosis spread more easily from infected people to their neighbors in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda.
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.