Translating discoveries about bone infections and the immune response
Center of Research Translation on the Osteoimmunology of Bone Infection (CoRTOBI)
Researchers are developing new tests and 3D-printed local treatments to better find and clear Staphylococcus aureus bone and prosthetic joint infections for people with infected or replacement joints.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178391 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center studies how Staphylococcus aureus hides deep inside live bone and how a person’s immune proteins affect their risk of infection and treatment outcome. Scientists are creating small drug molecules that can be 3D-printed into custom spacers used with antibiotics during revision surgery to reach bacteria in hard-to-treat bone spaces. They are also building multiplex blood tests to measure immune responses against Staph that could predict who is at higher risk or who may need different therapies. Work combines lab models, analysis of patient samples, and partnerships with industry to move promising tools toward clinical use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with prosthetic joint replacements, patients facing revision surgery for suspected or confirmed Staphylococcus aureus bone or joint infection, or those at high risk for prosthetic joint infection.
Not a fit: People without bacterial bone or prosthetic joint problems or whose infections are caused by non-Staphylococcus organisms may not benefit directly from these Staph-focused tools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give patients better tests to predict infection risk and new local therapies that reduce repeat surgeries and persistent bone infections.
How similar studies have performed: Local antibiotic spacers and immune-based diagnostics have shown value in related work, but targeting bacteria hidden in the bone’s microscopic canalicular network and 3D-printing small-molecule adjuvants is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarz, Edward M. — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Schwarz, Edward M.
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.