Rapid RNA-based test to guide antibiotics for tough lung bacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus)
Official title: Developing a Transcriptomic Assay for Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Mycobacterium abscessus in Clinical Microbiology Laboratories
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11403755 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor might use a new quick RNA test to decide the best antibiotics for patients with lung infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $190,230 |
| NIH project number | 5K08AI190124-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11403755 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infections caused by Mycobacterium abscessus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose infection is caused by other organisms or whose samples are not suitable for the assay may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to create a fast transcriptomic test that tells clinicians which antibiotics a patient’s infection is susceptible to, using samples directly from patients. The approach combines RNA sequencing and a targeted 10-gene panel to predict susceptibility to key drugs like clarithromycin and imipenem. The work is designed to be implementable in clinical microbiology labs, potentially shortening the time to appropriate treatment. If successful, it could reduce delays and improve outcomes for people with difficult lung infections due to NTMs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could start effective antibiotic therapy more quickly, improving outcomes and reducing unnecessary exposure to ineffective drugs.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows transcriptomic approaches can predict antibiotic susceptibility in bacteria, with this being a novel application to NTMs in human samples.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poonawala, Husain — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Poonawala, Husain
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.