Understanding why antibiotics sometimes fail to cure bone infections like osteomyelitis
Official title: Mechanisms of antibiotic failure during osteomyelitis
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11372817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies why some bone infections keep coming back even with strong antibiotics, with the goal of making treatments work better for people with osteomyelitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $554,304 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI173795-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372817 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with acute or chronic bone infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, or individuals at risk of osteomyelitis after surgery or trauma.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without bone infections or with infections caused by non-targeted pathogens may not benefit.
What this research studies
Osteomyelitis is a serious bone infection often caused by Staphylococcus aureus. The project looks at how bacteria and the body's responses create antibiotic tolerance in bone, using animal models and biological analyses to identify mechanisms that protect bacteria during treatment. The goal is to uncover targetable factors so future therapies can prevent failure, shorten therapy, and improve outcomes for patients. Findings could lead to new diagnostic and treatment approaches for difficult bone infections in humans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new strategies that prevent antibiotic failure and improve healing for people with osteomyelitis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown bacterial tolerance and protective tissue structures in vivo, supporting further exploration with potential for translational impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cassat, James E — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Cassat, James E
Related research
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This grant uses patient data from many centers to understand how well current treatments work for chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis in children and young adults.
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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.