Single-cell drug measurements inside cells to improve antimicrobial treatment
Official title: Novel single-cell mass spectrometry methods to assess the role of intracellular drug concentration and metabolism in antimicrobial treatment failure
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11369987 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at San Diego State University is testing a new method to measure how much drug actually gets inside cells infected with parasites, to understand why some treatments fail.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $409,448 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177469-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369987 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with intracellular infections where Trypanosoma cruzi or related pathogens are involved, or samples from such infections used in research.
✕Less likely to help
People not involved in infectious diseases or without access to participating research samples may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops a safe, cell-level mass spectrometry technique to measure intracellular drug and metabolite levels during infection with Trypanosoma cruzi. By mapping how drugs distribute inside individual cells, it aims to explain why some antimicrobial therapies don’t work as expected. The team will adapt the technology for pathogens, generate data on intracellular drug exposure, and link it to treatment outcomes. If successful, this approach could inform the design of more effective drugs and dosing strategies for intracellular infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more effective antimicrobial therapies with better intracellular drug delivery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cancer-focused single-cell mass spectrometry work showed heterogeneity in drug exposure, supporting the potential for similar insight in infections.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mccall, Laura-Isobel — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Mccall, Laura-Isobel
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.