The National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Kansas a $5.8 million grant to fund Phase 3 of its Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center, supporting regional research targeting antibiotic resistance and emerging pathogens. Established in 2016 as a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, the KU center bridges infectious disease biology with chemical approaches to develop targeted treatments that protect the body’s beneficial microbiome.
Funding Expansion and Institutional Collaboration
The $5.8 million federal award is designed to help the research center transition to a sustainable path beyond federal COBRE support. P. Scott Hefty, professor and chair of molecular biosciences at KU, serves as the center’s director and principal investigator. He works alongside co-principal investigators Jon Tunge, professor of medicinal chemistry, and Mark Farrell, associate professor of medicinal chemistry.
The center unites researchers across the University of Kansas, KU Medical Center, Kansas State, Wichita State, and other regional partners. According to Hefty, the primary reason for establishing the center was to connect infectious disease biologists who identify disease factors with colleagues in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and bioengineering who build chemical tools and probes.
Did you know? Over its first decade, the center contributed to 15 startups, helped recruit seven faculty members, and secured roughly $25 million in NIH funding alongside $90 million from broader research projects, pilot projects, and cores. Participating researchers also authored more than 600 publications.
Core Facilities and Research Approach
Participating investigators gain access to four core research labs dedicated to infectious disease high-throughput screening, computational chemical biology and molecular modeling, synthetic chemical biology, and flow cytometry. Researchers can apply for pilot project funding and vouchers for low-barrier use of these core facilities.
Rather than developing broad-spectrum antibiotics that wipe out healthy bacteria, Phase 3 research will focus on pathogen-specific compounds. Hefty stated that the team aims to target organisms like staph, strep, and enterococcus without disrupting the rest of the body’s normal flora while simultaneously addressing existing antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
Workforce Development and Regional Impact
Beyond laboratory discoveries, leadership emphasizes the program’s role in training the next generation of scientists. Over the past 10 years, undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs have utilized the center’s tools and techniques to prepare for regional and national professions.
Hefty noted support from the KU Office of Research, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the Kansas Board of Regents, the School of Pharmacy, and researchers in microbiology and biochemistry at KU Medical Center. This cross-disciplinary network will gather for the fifth annual Chemical Biology Symposium on Oct. 16-17, an event expected to draw over 100 regional attendees from institutions including K-State and Wichita State.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the KU Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center?
The center aims to combat antibiotic resistance and challenging infectious-disease outbreaks by combining infectious disease biology with chemical tools, probes, and bioengineering approaches.
Which institutions are involved in the center?
Participating institutions include the University of Kansas, KU Medical Center, Kansas State, and Wichita State, among other regional partners.
What does the Phase 3 funding support?
The $5.8 million NIH award helps guide the research center toward a sustainable path beyond initial federal COBRE support while funding targeted pathogen research and workforce training.
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