Using viruses to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Official title: Phage-Bacteria Evolution via Next-Generation Phage Bioreactors
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11018620 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how special viruses called bacteriophages can help treat stubborn infections that don’t get better with regular antibiotics, aiming to create a smart treatment that can keep up with bacteria that change over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $234,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI182965-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018620 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections that are not caused by bacteria or those who do not have antibiotic-resistant infections may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of bacteriophages, which are viruses that specifically target bacteria, as a treatment for infections that do not respond to traditional antibiotics. The approach involves creating a system that allows for the continuous growth of bacteria, enabling the production of phages that can adapt to bacterial mutations. By developing phage cocktails that can anticipate and counteract bacterial resistance, the research aims to provide a more effective treatment option for patients suffering from multi-drug resistant infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies that effectively treat infections resistant to current antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using phage therapy to treat bacterial infections, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maresso, Anthony W — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Maresso, Anthony W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multimodal AI to improve genetic diagnosis of congenital heart disease
A new AI tool uses multiple types of patient data to help doctors find genetic causes of congenital heart disease more accurately.
-
Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Children
This project watches how often common vaccines prevent illnesses in kids who are in the hospital or at the emergency department, and compares them with healthy children getting well-child care.
-
Triple gene therapy approach to heal the heart after a heart attack
A new therapy combines three genetic approaches delivered by a virus to help the heart heal after a heart attack.
-
Thalamic sleep circuit changes in Alzheimer's disease
Aims to understand how sleep-related brain activity in a key sleep regulator called the TRN affects Alzheimer’s progression and whether boosting TRN function could slow symptoms.
-
Cardiomyocyte-fibroblast signaling in atrial fibrillation
A researcher at Baylor College of Medicine is studying how signals between heart muscle cells and supportive heart cells influence atrial fibrillation, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent or treat this common heart rhythm problem.
-
UMPIRE: Keeping Kidneys Healthy for Babies with Spina Bifida
A care protocol for newborns with spina bifida aims to protect kidney function by thoughtful bladder management and monitoring from birth.
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.