Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

The Center for Phage Pharmaceuticals (Phage Pharm)

Award Number: P01AI196047
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2031

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

The Center for Phage Pharmaceuticals (Phage Pharm) - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Bacteriophages (phages) – viral predators of bacteria – are a promising solution to antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections caused by ESKAPE pathogens, particularly for Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infections in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease involving mutations in the CFTR protein. While phage therapy in CF can be successful, results are inconsistent. Unfortunately, we do not know how best to dose and deliver phages to sites of infection, reflecting underlying knowledge gaps in phage pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) that frustrate drug development of phage therapies. While pharmacology is the cornerstone of modern drug development, phage PK/PD studies are rarely performed. This is because existing bioanalytical approaches are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and require large numbers of samples for statistical rigor. Moreover, we lack animal models of chronic bacterial infection that recapitulate the pathophysiology of CF and can support chronic lung infections. This has made it challenging to optimize phage therapy dosing regimens, delaying the development of phage therapy as a reliable adjunct or alternative to antibiotics in CF and other therapeutic settings. To address these challenges, we will establish the Center for Phage Pharmaceuticals (the Phage Pharm ), a research collaboration devoted to developing cutting-edge tools and rigorous pharmacologic approaches to phage therapy development. Our center proposes two synergistic but independent projects: Project 1 pioneers approaches adapted from nuclear medicine, including positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of radioisotope-labeled phages and sophisticated analytical methods, to track lytic phage distribution and develop quantitative pharmacokinetic models. Project 2 will establish a novel preclinical model to study respiratory phage therapy PD. First, we will develop the CFTR-/- rat, which recapitulates many aspects of CF in humans including the development of chronic P. aeruginosa lung infections, as a robust, standardized preclinical model of phage therapy. Using this model, we will then optimize delivery of respiratory phage therapy. Finally, we will establish assays for evaluating the host response to phage therapy, including neutralizing antibodies. A set of core facilities will support these efforts with cutting-edge technologies and focused expertise. The Administrative Core (Core A) will ensure coordination between projects, cores, and CAPT-CEP centers. The Phage Production and Radiolabeling Core (Core B) will produce standardized radiolabeled phages. The Phage Pharmacology Core (Core C) will develop mathematical models to analyze PK and optimize dosing strategies. While this proposal focuses on P. aeruginosa and CF, the knowledge and approaches developed here will be broadly applicable to any phage-based therapeutics. Our vision is that the Phage Pharm will empower respiratory phage therapy, unlocking the therapeutic potential of phages in CF and other settings.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $1,791,094 )
2026	2026	THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY	450 JANE STANFORD WAY	STANFORD	CA	94305	SANTA CLARA	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/30/2026	NEW	$1,791,094
														Subtotal = $1,791,094

Grand Total All Awards = $1,791,094

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

The Center for Phage Pharmaceuticals (Phage Pharm)

Award Number: P01AI196047

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2031

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer