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Local Tech Wire
DURHAM, N.C. – Researchers at will seek ways to combat increasing resistance to antibiotics with funding from a $11 million federal grant.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is funding the project.
Duke will have to achieve certain milestones over the next six years to receive all the funding available. Research will focus on Phase III and IV clinical trials to develop treatments that reduce overexposure to antimicrobial drugs in order to decrease the likelihood of drug resistance being developed.
"As clinicians we are concerned because the need for these medications is growing. Antimicrobial resistance is expanding and few new drugs are under development," said Vance Fowler Jr., associate professor of medicine. He will be the study’s principal investigator. "The objective of this research is to extend the life of the commonly used therapies and reduce the risk of drug resistance."
Duke plans to enroll some 600 people in the trials that will focus on blood infections linked to infected intravenous catheters.
