Understanding how electrical signals affect biofilm growth and drug resistance
Official title: The electrophysiology of biofilm development and drug resistance
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-10883661 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how electrical signals and movement affect the way bacteria form stubborn clusters called biofilms, which can be hard to treat with antibiotics, and it hopes to find better ways to combine antibiotics to help patients with tough infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $138,699 |
| NIH project number | 5K99AI175656-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10883661 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from infections related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, particularly those involving biofilm formation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not associated with biofilms or antibiotic resistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of electrical signals in the development and resistance of biofilms, which are clusters of bacteria that can resist antibiotic treatment. The study will explore how mechanical stimulation influences calcium levels and bacterial behavior, leading to biofilm formation. Additionally, it aims to develop high-throughput screening methods to test the effectiveness of various antibiotic combinations against these resilient biofilms. Patients may benefit from improved treatment strategies for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for infections caused by drug-resistant biofilms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding biofilm resistance mechanisms, but this specific approach focusing on electrophysiology is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyer, Christian T — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Meyer, Christian T
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.