New ways to stop urinary tract infections by blocking bacterial adhesion
Official title: Investigating Novel Methods to Combat Urinary Tract Infections
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11579974 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to test new methods that prevent bacteria from sticking to urinary tract tissues and devices, potentially stopping infections before they start.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,376 |
| NIH project number | 4R00GM141364-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11579974 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-facing trial; this is a basic science study, but outcomes could inform future patient-facing anti-adhesion therapies.
✕Less likely to help
There is no direct patient intervention in this grant.
What this research studies
UTIs affect millions and are harder to treat as bacteria resist medicines. This project explores whether blocking adhesins—proteins bacteria use to attach—can prevent infection, focusing on two key adhesins: FmlH in E. coli and MrkD in resistant Klebsiella. Building on prior work with FimH, researchers will study whether similar control of protein shapes and signaling applies to FmlH and MrkD and if these strategies can stop bacteria from sticking and forming protective biofilms. The work involves structural and functional experiments to see if these adhesion-blocking approaches can be generalized to other bacteria implicated in urinary tract infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new therapies that prevent UTIs by stopping bacterial adhesion rather than killing bacteria with antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on FimH has shown promise for anti-adhesion strategies, and this project tests if similar concepts apply to other adhesins with potential clinical impact.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magala, Pearl — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Magala, Pearl
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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.