Understanding and Preventing Drug Resistance
Defining and Avoiding Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Resistance
This research helps us understand why some medicines stop working and how to create new drugs that stay effective against tough infections and cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11087460 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Drug resistance is a major challenge, making many important medicines less effective for millions of people with infections and cancer. This happens because diseases can quickly adapt and change, making drugs stop working. Our goal is to shift from reacting to resistance to preventing it by designing drugs that are harder for diseases to overcome. We use a combination of lab experiments and computer modeling to uncover how resistance develops at a molecular level. This knowledge helps us create new strategies for designing medicines that remain effective for longer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly recruit patients but aims to benefit those with bacterial, viral, fungal infections, or cancer who experience drug resistance.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not affected by drug resistance or who are not receiving drug therapies would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of new drugs that maintain their effectiveness for longer periods against serious bacterial, viral, fungal infections, and various cancers.
How similar studies have performed: The research builds on prior insights into drug resistance mechanisms, particularly from HIV-1 protease, suggesting a foundation of existing knowledge.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schiffer, Celia a. — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Schiffer, Celia a.
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.