Press Releases

Today, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) announced $714,053 in federal funding for research conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) which seeks to provide alternative treatments to bacterial infections as resistance to antibiotic treatment grows. The award is provided through the U.S. Health and Human Services National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“Antibiotic resistance poses a growing threat to worldwide health and safety,” Congressman Kennedy said. “It is critical we get ahead of the curve through the development of effective treatment options now. We are proud to have this needed and potentially transformational research happening right here at the University at Buffalo.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND: 

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have contributed to resistance while the development of novel antibiotics over the last decade has been sparse, leading to limited options and increased risk in the treatment of bacterial infections. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control’s 2019 report on Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, “More than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.”

A study conducted at UB will examine the use of bacteriophages (phages), viruses which attack bacteria, as an alternative to antibiotic treatment.

The project is led by Nicholas Smith, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at the University at Buffalo’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science (SPPS), who said, “I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to conduct this important and necessary research on phage therapy, which I believe holds significant promise of saving countless patients from the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. The urgency of finding new ways to combat drug-resistant infections, especially for our most vulnerable patients, drives everyone on the team. The potential to realize the longstanding promise of phage therapy as precise and effective treatments is incredibly exciting for everyone involved.”

Phage therapy, discovered in the early 1900s, isn’t new but is still considered experimental treatment with the prevalence of antibiotic use in recent history. Dr. Smith will be working with world-leading clinical pharmacologists, phage biologists, bacterial geneticists, and chemists at UB and San Diego State University to identify the best strategy to combine multiple phages into a cocktail.

Dr. Smith added, “I am incredibly grateful to our dedicated team members who have made this project possible: Dr. Dwayne Roach of San Diego State University, and Drs. Liang Chen, Troy Wood, Gene Morse, Thomas Nguyen, and Mr. Jacob Sanborn of the University at Buffalo. Their expertise, passion, and commitment have been invaluable in realizing this ambitious project. I also want to thank Congressman Tim Kennedy for his ongoing support of scientific research. Together, we endeavor to break new ground that will hopefully improve human health worldwide.”

Gary Pollack, PhD, dean and professor, UB SPPS added, “As we face the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, discovering new ways to combat drug-resistant infections is essential. Dr. Smith and his team’s work in developing effective phage-based therapies plays a vital role in reducing the impact of antibiotic resistant pathogens and addressing a critical public health challenge.”

It is estimated that by 2050, 10 million people could die annually as a result of antimicrobial resistance, exceeding current annual cancer deaths by 1.8 million.

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