Using blue light to prevent infections in breathing tubes
Official title: Antimicrobial blue light-activatable optical endotracheal tube to combat biofilms on the endotracheal tube
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10789259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new kind of breathing tube that uses special blue light to help keep patients on ventilators safe from infections like pneumonia, making it a friendlier option for those who need help breathing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 2, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $205,735 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI180632-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10789259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who require mechanical ventilation and are at risk of developing ventilator-associated pneumonia due to endotracheal intubation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require intubation or mechanical ventilation are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new type of endotracheal tube that uses antimicrobial blue light to prevent and eliminate harmful biofilms that can cause ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The study aims to develop a cost-effective solution to combat biofilm formation, which is a significant cause of infection in intubated patients. Researchers will conduct laboratory tests to evaluate the effectiveness of this innovative optical endotracheal tube in preventing and treating biofilms. If successful, this approach could lead to improved patient outcomes and reduced infection rates in hospitals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intubated patients, leading to better health outcomes and lower mortality rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that antimicrobial coatings can reduce infection rates, but this approach using blue light is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dai, Tianhong — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dai, Tianhong
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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.