Drs. Pallavi Ghosh and Anil Ojha of the Wadsworth Center’s Division of Genetics have been awarded a highly competitive R01 research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with colleagues at Central Michigan University and Colorado State University. The five-year, $3.5 million project—“Therapeutic Potential of Mycobacteriophage LysB Against Mycobacterium abscessus Infections”—will explore an innovative therapeutic approach to combat this highly drug-tolerant bacterial pathogen. Mycobacterium abscessus causes serious infections, particularly in individuals with respiratory or immunocompromising conditions, and presents a significant clinical challenge due to its resistance to conventional antibiotics. This project focuses on Lysin B, a bacteriophage-derived enzyme that selectively degrades the bacterial outer envelope, leading to rupture and death of the pathogen—without harming human cells.
Applications for NIH R01 grants undergo a rigorous peer review process by expert panels and are ranked based on scientific merit. This proposal was ranked in the 3rd percentile nationally, reflecting the exceptional quality and innovation of the research being conducted at the Wadsworth Center. This award underscores the Center’s ongoing leadership in biomedical research and public health innovation. It will support the continued work of Drs. Ghosh and Ojha and contribute to the New York State Department of Health’s mission to protect and advance public health through science.