New lincosamide antibiotics to fight dangerous drug-resistant bacteria
Discovery through chemical synthesis of antibiotics effective against modern bacterial pathogens
Creating new lincosamide antibiotic molecules to help people with serious infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11253300 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing and synthesizing many new lincosamide-based antibiotic molecules that cannot be made by older semi-synthetic methods. They will test these compounds against drug-resistant bacteria in laboratory cultures and in animal models to find candidates that kill multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii and other high-priority organisms. The team is building on a promising lead called iboxamycin and making related versions to improve potency and safety. This work is preclinical and conducted in a Harvard laboratory rather than involving patient treatment at this stage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients now, but future clinical trials would target people with serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii.
Not a fit: People without bacterial infections (for example those with viral illnesses) or those with mild, uncomplicated infections are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce new antibiotics that treat infections that no longer respond to current drugs and expand options for clinicians.
How similar studies have performed: Related compounds such as iboxamycin have shown strong activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria in lab and animal studies, but no new lincosamide has reached the clinic in decades.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Myers, Andrew G — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Myers, Andrew G
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 below.