Understanding how sticky germ communities react to stress
Developing platforms for studying the impact of external stresses on multispecies biofilms.
This project aims to create new ways to understand how sticky germ communities, called biofilms, respond to different conditions, helping us fight infections better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11105999 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Biofilms are tough communities of germs that cause many hospital infections and make medical devices risky. These germs are hard to treat because they can quickly regrow and resist antibiotics. This project is building special tools and mathematical models to see how biofilms react to things like temperature, fluid flow, and medicines. By simulating real-world conditions, we hope to learn how to better prevent and treat these persistent infections.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who suffer from recurrent or difficult-to-treat infections, especially those related to medical devices or hospital stays, could eventually benefit from this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to bacterial or fungal biofilm infections would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more effective ways to prevent and treat stubborn infections caused by biofilms on surfaces and medical devices.
How similar studies have performed: While the general problem of biofilms is well-known, this project focuses on developing novel platforms and mathematical relationships to better translate fundamental findings to real-world infection scenarios.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Akhenaton-Andrew Dhafir — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Jones, Akhenaton-Andrew Dhafir
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.