Membrane repair in Leishmania major to guide new therapies
Official title: Determining the mechanisms of membrane repair in the human pathogen Leishmania major
Funded at Texas Tech University · NIH-11361213 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how the parasite Leishmania major fixes its cell membrane after damage, with the goal of helping develop treatments that target this weakness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $609,035 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AI194040-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11361213 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Leishmania major infection or related leishmaniasis could benefit from future therapies developed from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
People without leishmaniasis may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic study.
What this research studies
This project investigates how Leishmania major detects membrane damage and reseals its membrane, which is different from human cells. Researchers will explore the role of ESCRT pathways and calcium-independent mitochondrial processes in membrane repair, using the parasite’s unique biology. The goal is to identify differences from human cells that can be exploited to create selective therapies with fewer side effects. The work relies on genetically tractable Leishmania and aims to uncover targets for novel anti-parasitic drugs that disrupt membrane integrity in the pathogen.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to new, more selective treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis by exploiting the parasite’s membrane repair mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that targeting membrane integrity in parasites can yield new therapies, but the exact repair mechanisms in Leishmania are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keyel, Peter a — Texas Tech University
- Study coordinator: Keyel, Peter a
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.