Using blue light and antibiotics together to fight drug-resistant bacteria
Official title: Combination of Antimicrobial Blue Light and Antibiotics to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11045743 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to fight tough bacteria by using a mix of special blue light and regular antibiotics to see if they can work better together, and it's for anyone interested in new treatments for infections that don't respond to standard antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $736,990 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI177563-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045743 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach that combines antimicrobial blue light with traditional antibiotics to enhance their effectiveness against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The study aims to understand how this combination can work synergistically to improve antimicrobial activity and potentially reverse antibiotic resistance. Researchers will conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment on human cells and bacteria, exploring its mechanisms of action and the possibility of bacteria developing resistance to this combined therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar approaches combining light therapy and antibiotics, indicating potential for success in this novel treatment strategy.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dai, Tianhong — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dai, Tianhong
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.