Strategies to boost how well antibiotic combos work for chronic bacterial infections
Official title: Strategies for improving the efficacy of combinatorial antibiotic therapy in chronic infections
Funded at Texas Tech University · NIH-11369077 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project aims to make combination antibiotic therapy more effective for people with chronic infections like wounds and lung infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lubbock, United States) |
| Project start | July 11, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $349,799 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173686-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369077 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with chronic wound or lung infections caused by bacteria that show resistance to standard antibiotics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute, short-lived infections or infections caused by non-bacterial or highly susceptible organisms may not benefit.
What this research studies
Chronic infections with resistant bacteria are hard to clear, and this project looks at how the host environment and bacterial communities help bacteria survive antibiotics. The team will study how stressors at the infection site promote bacterial changes and how multiple bacterial species interacting together can spread resistance and reduce drug effectiveness. By analyzing these factors, they hope to design improved antibiotic combinations that stay effective longer. The work is conducted at Texas Tech University with a focus on translating findings to better treatment strategies for patients who struggle with persistent infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to smarter antibiotic combinations that better clear chronic infections and reduce resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that understanding host-pathogen interactions and microbial communities can inform more effective therapies, with varying levels of success.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wakeman, Catherine Ann — Texas Tech University
- Study coordinator: Wakeman, Catherine Ann
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.