Understanding how tuberculosis bacteria use carbon during infection
Official title: M. tuberculosis carbon metabolism during infection
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11086637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria that cause tuberculosis use different types of carbon in the body during infection, and it's for anyone interested in finding new treatments for tuberculosis by understanding how these bacteria survive and grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 2, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $817,108 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177560-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with active or chronic tuberculosis infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have tuberculosis or are not currently infected with the bacteria will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the bacteria causing tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) utilize carbon in different environments within the body during infection. By using animal models, including nonhuman primates and mice, the study aims to identify specific enzymes involved in the bacteria's metabolism that could serve as targets for new tuberculosis drugs. The researchers will manipulate these enzymes to observe their role in establishing and maintaining infection, particularly under various conditions that mimic human disease. This approach could lead to a better understanding of how tuberculosis persists and progresses in the body.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of more effective treatments for tuberculosis, potentially reducing the burden of this disease.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting bacterial metabolism for drug development, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ehrt, Sabine — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Ehrt, Sabine
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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.