New medicines for schistosomiasis
Development of novel TGR inhibitors for the treatment of schistosomiasis
This project aims to find new medicines to fight schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection affecting millions worldwide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11133057 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Schistosomiasis is a serious parasitic infection that impacts over 200 million people, and currently, there's only one main drug available, praziquantel. Unfortunately, parasites are starting to become resistant to this drug, meaning it might not work as well in the future. Our team is looking for new ways to stop the parasite by targeting a specific enzyme called TGR, which is crucial for the worm's survival. By finding new drugs that block TGR, we hope to develop effective new treatments for schistosomiasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational drug discovery work is ultimately intended to benefit individuals living with schistosomiasis, particularly those in regions where the disease is common.
Not a fit: Patients without schistosomiasis would not directly benefit from this specific research, as it focuses on developing treatments for this parasitic infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new, much-needed medications for schistosomiasis, especially for patients whose infections are resistant to current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: While there are no new drugs in the clinical pipeline for schistosomiasis, targeting essential parasite enzymes like TGR represents a novel and promising approach for drug development.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petukhov, Pavel a — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Petukhov, Pavel 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 below.