Surveillance of drug-resistant eye-related bacteria using affordable long-read sequencing
Official title: Surveillance of drug-resistant bacteria in resource-limited settings: a focus on cost-effective long-read sequencing of eyedrop-associated P. aeruginosa and locally sourced metagenomic samples
Funded at California State University Fresno · NIH-11412467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are testing a low-cost, community-friendly approach to monitor drug-resistant bacteria in settings with limited resources, using eye-drop-related Pseudomonas and local samples.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Fresno NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fresno, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $175,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16AI184350-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals in communities with limited resources where eyedrop-associated infections or environmental exposure to resistant bacteria may occur.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings without access to sequencing infrastructure or those not exposed to eyedrop-associated bacteria may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will pilot decentralized antimicrobial resistance surveillance in resource-limited communities. It will use affordable long-read sequencing on Flongle devices to detect drug-resistant bacteria and bacteriophages in eyedrop samples and locally sourced metagenomic material. The goal is to understand how well these low-cost methods work for fast, accurate detection of resistant pathogens so communities can respond quickly. The study is rooted in real-world settings and aims to build a scalable system for ongoing AMR monitoring beyond hospitals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients and communities could benefit from faster, cheaper detection of resistant infections and more timely public health responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows low-cost sequencing can detect resistance, but this project tests a practical, community-focused implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University Fresno
Fresno, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shim, Hyunjin — California State University Fresno
- Study coordinator: Shim, Hyunjin
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.