Trans-tympanic Endolysin: a noninvasive treatment for ear infections
Official title: Development of a Trans-tympanic Endolysin for Noninvasive Treatment of Otitis Media
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11442072 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, noninvasive approach uses specially delivered enzymes to fight middle ear infections through the eardrum, potentially reducing the need for systemic antibiotics in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $412,720 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC024135-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11442072 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with recurrent or difficult-to-treat otitis media who could eventually receive a local, noninvasive ear delivery therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-infectious ear conditions or those without access to the delivery approach may not benefit.
What this research studies
Otitis media is a common childhood infection often treated with antibiotics that can be less effective due to limited drug delivery to the middle ear. This grant investigates delivering therapeutic enzymes directly through the eardrum using natural transport pathways to target bacteria at the infection site, aiming to bypass the tympanic membrane barrier. The work builds on findings that certain peptides can cross the eardrum and carry therapeutic cargo, with safety and efficacy tested in multiple animal models and human tissue. If successful, this approach could shorten illness duration, lower antibiotic exposure, and reduce complications such as hearing loss. The project is an early-stage exploration focused on proving targeted drug delivery through the tympanic membrane with a bacterial-killing cargo.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with otitis media could receive effective, localized treatment without systemic antibiotics or surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown active transport through the tympanic membrane and safe delivery of cargo, but therapeutic demonstration against pneumococcus in OM is still under investigation.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nelson, Daniel C. — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Nelson, Daniel C.
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.