Targeted antibiotics for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections
Targeted development and selective delivery of small molecule antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug resistant infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens
['FUNDING_R15'] · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE · NIH-11267541
Developing new small-molecule antibiotics and delivery methods to help patients, including children and immunocompromised people, who have hard-to-treat Gram-negative infections like Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R15'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ASHEVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11267541 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this project focuses on designing new antibiotics that attack previously unused bacterial targets and on ways to get those drugs inside tough Gram-negative cells and biofilms. The researchers are making and testing small molecules in the lab against strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii and studying how the drugs interact with bacterial energy-producing enzymes. They are also exploring delivery strategies to overcome the outer membrane and biofilm barriers that block many current antibiotics. This work is preclinical and laboratory-based, aiming to produce candidates that could move toward animal studies and eventually clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter baumannii, including immunocompromised adults and children, would be the ultimate candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with non-bacterial illnesses or infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria or pathogens not targeted by these new compounds are unlikely to benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could yield new antibiotics that treat multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections and reduce deaths in vulnerable patients.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting bacterial energy-production and using selective delivery is a relatively novel approach with some promising laboratory results, but clinical success for similar strategies remains limited so far.
Where this research is happening
ASHEVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE — ASHEVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WOLFE, AMANDA LYNN — UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE
- Study coordinator: WOLFE, AMANDA LYNN
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.