Rapid bedside DNA test that works on raw samples
Point-of-care DNA diagnostics from raw samples
This project will build living bacterial sensors that read DNA directly from raw samples like urine and give fast, easy results for people with suspected infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311311 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are engineering harmless bacteria to pull DNA straight out of unprocessed samples and use their natural CRISPR systems to spot single-letter DNA differences. When a target sequence is found, the engineered bacteria release many signal molecules that show up on a simple lateral-flow strip, similar to a pregnancy test. The team will demonstrate the approach for urinary tract pathogens, subtyping E. coli to distinguish likely harmful from harmless strains, and for Salmonella. The aim is a cheap, equipment-free test you could use at the bedside or in low-resource settings to get quicker answers about infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with suspected urinary tract infections, suspected Salmonella (foodborne) infections, or anyone able to provide raw samples like urine or stool may be candidates for related future testing.
Not a fit: People with non-bacterial illnesses, infections from organisms not targeted by the sensors, or conditions that do not involve the tested DNA sequences are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide rapid, equipment-free identification of bacterial pathogens and specific DNA changes to help speed diagnosis and treatment decisions.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPR-based rapid diagnostics have shown promise, but using engineered living bacteria to capture DNA from raw samples and produce lateral-flow readouts is a novel approach with limited prior clinical testing.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Robert M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Robert M
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.