Using viruses to treat recurrent urinary tract infections in kidney transplant patients

Phage Therapy for Recurrent UTIs in Kidney Transplant Recipients

NIH-funded research University of California, San Diego · NIH-10801997

This study is looking at a new treatment using viruses to help women who have had kidney transplants and keep getting urinary tract infections, aiming to see if this method can help reduce infections without the side effects of regular antibiotics.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Diego NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-10801997 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of bacteriophage therapy to treat recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) in kidney transplant recipients, particularly women. The approach involves administering specific viruses that target and kill the bacteria responsible for these infections, such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. By focusing on the gut and urinary microbiome, the therapy aims to reduce the frequency of rUTIs while minimizing the adverse effects associated with traditional antibiotics. The study will compare the safety and effectiveness of phage therapy against a placebo in a clinical trial setting.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are female kidney transplant recipients who experience recurrent urinary tract infections.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have recurrent urinary tract infections or those who are not kidney transplant recipients may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective treatment option for kidney transplant recipients suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in using phage therapy for bacterial infections, indicating potential success for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.