Understanding how bacteria form structured communities called biofilms
Official title: Probing the role of sensory cues in the regulation of bacterial biofilm development
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10910003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how bacteria detect changes in their surroundings, like light and food, to decide when to group together and form biofilms, which can cause infections; understanding this process could help us find better ways to treat these infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $401,296 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150803-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-bacterial infections or those not affected by biofilm-related complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how bacteria sense and respond to various environmental cues to form biofilms, which are complex communities of bacteria. By studying the molecular mechanisms behind this decision-making process, the research aims to uncover how factors like light, nutrient availability, and population density influence biofilm development. The approach involves advanced techniques such as fluorescence microscopy to visualize and analyze these interactions in real-time. This knowledge could lead to better strategies for managing bacterial infections and biofilm-related issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for infections caused by biofilm-forming bacteria, particularly those that are resistant to antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding bacterial behavior and biofilm formation, indicating that this approach is built on established scientific principles.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Sampriti — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Sampriti
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Education and violence: Can high-dosage tutoring reduce youth violence
A large study in Chicago schools will test whether high-dosage tutoring for students can lessen youth violence by improving learning and outcomes.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Lens proteins, cell stress, and cataracts in kids and adults
A study aims to understand how lens proteins and cellular stress contribute to cataracts, in both humans and mice, with the goal of guiding prevention or treatment.
-
Understanding how neurons keep their identity and function for life
Scientists are studying how nerve cells maintain their distinctive identity and function from development through aging, using human-derived neurons and a simple worm model to uncover the long-term control of brain cell behavior.
-
Cardiac Sarcomere Protein Quality Control in Health and Disease
A heart-focused study looking at how heart muscle proteins get misfolded and how the cell’s cleanup system might fix this to protect heart function.
-
Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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.