New antibiotics to treat hard-to-cure infections

Hybrid Antibiotics for Persistent Infections

NIH-funded research St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-10935961

This study is looking at new ways to create hybrid antibiotics that can better fight tough bacterial infections, especially for people dealing with stubborn infections that don't respond well to regular antibiotics.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Memphis, United States)
Project IDNIH-10935961 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing and optimizing hybrid antibiotics that target difficult-to-treat bacterial infections, particularly those associated with biofilms and complicated Gram-positive infections. The approach involves using a combination of two types of antibiotics to effectively kill bacteria that are in a dormant state, which traditional antibiotics struggle to eliminate. By activating specific cellular processes, these new agents aim to overcome antibiotic resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients with severe infections.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include patients with complicated Gram-positive infections, such as bacteremia, prosthetic joint infections, or infective endocarditis.

Not a fit: Patients with infections caused by bacteria that are not Gram-positive or those who do not have persistent infections may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for patients suffering from persistent and hard-to-treat bacterial infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using hybrid antibiotics to tackle antibiotic-resistant infections, indicating that this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

Memphis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.