New ways to detect and treat sepsis using smart phages and CRISPR
Official title: Novel approaches to detect and treat sepsis
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11396401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach aims to quickly detect and treat sepsis by using engineered phages and CRISPR-based devices to find bacteria in blood and help purify and identify them, especially in settings with limited resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147069-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396401 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with suspected bacterial sepsis or healthcare-associated infections where rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical.
✕Less likely to help
If you have a non-bacterial cause of sepsis or a condition not addressed by this approach, you may not benefit from these devices.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one develops sepsis, this project explores faster tests and smarter treatments to catch the infection early. Researchers will create phages engineered with CRISPR and attach nanobots to concentrate bacteria from blood samples, then test these ideas in the lab and with clinical samples. The goal is to develop portable, easy-to-use devices that could work in clinics or field settings to improve diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. This work builds on combining bacteriophages with CRISPR to recognize specific bacteria and to streamline pathogen detection. The project is planned over five years at UC Riverside with the aim of translating lab breakthroughs into practical tools for patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to faster, more accurate sepsis detection and targeted treatment options, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: Similar CRISPR-based diagnostic approaches have shown promise in detecting pathogens, but integration with engineered phages and nanobots for sepsis is a newer concept with early-stage results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Juhong — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Chen, Juhong
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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.