New antifungal treatments for valley fever
Official title: Novel antifungal agents against coccidioidomycosis
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11140282 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new antifungal treatments for valley fever, aiming to help patients by targeting the fungi that cause the infection without harming their healthy cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 17, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $748,714 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175635-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140282 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with severe coccidioidomycosis who have not responded well to existing treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild or asymptomatic coccidioidomycosis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new antifungal agents to treat infections caused by the fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii, which are prevalent in the southwestern United States. The approach involves targeting specific pathways in the fungi that are not present in humans, allowing for the creation of effective treatments without harming human cells. The research will optimize a natural product candidate that has shown promise in laboratory models, and it will involve a series of experiments to refine the drug's effectiveness and understand how it works. Patients suffering from severe forms of valley fever may benefit from these new treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide more effective and safer treatment options for patients suffering from coccidioidomycosis.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in fungal infections, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Walczak, Maciej — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Walczak, Maciej
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.