Leveraging beneficial bacteria nasal spray to help chronic sinusitis
Official title: Leveraging Live Biotherapeutics for the Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Funded at Alveolus Bio, INC. · NIH-11313553 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small project is testing a Lactobacillus-based nasal spray to reduce inflammation and restore balance in the nasal passages of people with chronic rhinosinusitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alveolus Bio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $301,768 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AI197548-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313553 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic rhinosinusitis who are candidates for nasal therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People without CRS or those unsuitable for nasal spray therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
Chronic rhinosinusitis affects many adults and currently used treatments often don’t fix the underlying immune issues or the nasal microbiome. This project will study a live biotherapeutic product called RSB11, a Lactobacillus-based nasal spray, to see how it interacts with nasal tissue and the immune system. Researchers will use 16S sequencing to analyze nasal microbiome changes and run lab tests to understand how RSB11 affects inflammatory players and barrier function. The goal is to uncover mechanisms by which the probiotic spray could reduce inflammation and improve nasal health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could lessen nasal inflammation and improve symptoms for people with CRS.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data suggest that similar Lactobacillus-based approaches can modulate inflammation and microbial balance, but human data are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Alveolus Bio, INC.
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nicola, Teodora — Alveolus Bio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Nicola, Teodora
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.