Optimizing bacterial carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
Official title: Optimization of bacterial carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to treat vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11402880 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Purdue team is developing targeted bacterial drugs to fight vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $805,954 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI148523-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402880 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with infections caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus or those at high risk for such infections in settings like bone marrow transplant clinics or hospitals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without VRE infections or those whose infection biology does not respond to these inhibitors may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to refine new bacterial carbonic anhydrase inhibitors that selectively block bacterial enzymes without affecting human ones. The effort uses structure-based design to improve potency and pharmacokinetics, creating scaffolds suited for different infection sites. The researchers will test the best candidates in five preclinical infection models to gauge effectiveness across common VRE scenarios. The work represents a translational step toward new treatments for difficult-to-treat gut and systemic infections caused by VRE.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with VRE infections could have more effective treatment options with drugs tailored to combat these resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous lead compounds showed promise and this project advances them with optimized selectivity and broader preclinical evaluation.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Flaherty, Daniel Patrick — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Flaherty, Daniel Patrick
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.