Investigating why antibiotics fail to treat infections in diabetic patients
Official title: Diabetes and Antibiotic Treatment Failure
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10973596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why antibiotics sometimes don't work for people with diabetes who have skin infections caused by a common bacteria, using mice to see how high sugar levels in diabetes might make the bacteria tougher to treat, with the goal of finding better ways to help patients heal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | November 14, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $684,320 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173004-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10973596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with diabetes who are experiencing skin and soft tissue infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without diabetes or those not suffering from skin and soft tissue infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the reasons behind the failure of antibiotic treatments in diabetic patients suffering from skin and soft tissue infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Using a mouse model, the study compares normal and diabetic mice to observe how high glucose levels in diabetic environments may lead to increased antibiotic resistance and tolerance in bacteria. The research aims to uncover the metabolic changes in both bacteria and the host that contribute to these treatment failures, which could ultimately inform better treatment strategies for affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved antibiotic treatments for diabetic patients, reducing the incidence of chronic infections and severe complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that metabolic factors can influence antibiotic resistance, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conlon, Brian Patrick — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Conlon, Brian Patrick
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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.