Understanding how beta-lactam antibiotics kill bacteria
Official title: A systems approach to understanding beta lactam antibiotic mechanism of action
Funded at Cornell University · NIH-11471089 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH grant is funding a patient-relevant look at how beta-lactam antibiotics work to destroy bacteria, with implications for better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cornell University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ithaca, United States) |
| Project start | May 7, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $270,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AI190043-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11471089 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with bacterial infections where beta-lactam antibiotics are used or considered, and those who may benefit from improved antibiotic therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not receiving beta-lactam antibiotics or those with infections not impacted by this research may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will use new bacterial models and a novel analysis pipeline to study how penicillin-like drugs break down bacterial cell walls. Researchers will examine the roles of PBPs and autolysins to map the steps leading to bacterial lysis. The work aims to generate detailed, high-throughput insights into how these drugs cause cell wall breakdown and death in bacteria. The findings could inform the development of improved antibiotics and strategies to combat resistance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to better, more effective antibiotics and strategies to overcome resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that understanding drug-induced cell wall breakdown can guide antibiotic improvements, and this project builds on those findings with new tools.
Where this research is happening
-
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Doerr, Tobias — Cornell University
- Study coordinator: Doerr, Tobias
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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.