Personalized antibiotic mixes to beat resistant bacteria
Official title: Personalized Antimicrobial Combinations to Combat Resistance
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11374533 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-led study aims to tailor antibiotic combinations to fight drug-resistant infections in patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $789,527 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI140287-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374533 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, such as Acinetobacter baumannii or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where combination therapy is considered.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-resistant infections or infections unlikely to respond to the studied antibiotic combinations may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a precision medicine platform with a monitoring device and data algorithm to suggest effective antibiotic combinations for patients with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. It seeks to move beyond guesswork and base treatment choices on patient-specific bacteria responses to antibiotics. If successful, clinicians could design smarter, personalized therapy plans without needing full knowledge of resistance mechanisms. The work builds on existing clinical challenges and aims to delay the return to ineffective single-drug treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with resistant infections could receive smarter, more effective antibiotic combinations tailored to their bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Past efforts show promise in using data-driven approaches to guide antibiotic choices, but robust clinical validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tam, Vincent H — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Tam, Vincent H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding TCRs in Leukemia to Improve Immunotherapies
A short, patient-friendly look at a project trying to map how immune cells recognize leukemia so future therapies can be better and safer for people with AML.
-
MISC-CBO: Helping children cope after caregiver loss with trained community workers
A year-long program trains community careworkers to improve mental health for children who have lost a parent to illness or death.
-
Transdiagnostic Patterns in Developmental Disabilities Across Ages
A study looking at how developmental disabilities appear and change from early childhood through adolescence in diverse settings to improve prevention and intervention efforts.
-
Towards a blood-based test using nanophotonic exosomes to screen and diagnose liver cancer
A new blood test using tiny particles shed by liver cancer cells aims to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma earlier and more accurately.
-
Support for Monitoring and Remote Tracking for Prediabetes
Aimed at helping adults with prediabetes use continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) through training and support from community health workers to improve self-management and prevent progression to diabetes.
-
Cellular and Molecular Clues to LVNC Heart Disease
A study on why a childhood heart condition called LVNC develops, using genetic tools and a new mouse model to uncover the cellular changes and heart cell interactions involved.
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.