Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Washington a Project Grant totaling $427,625 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on July 10, 2026, with a completion date of June 30, 2028. This research initiative focuses on evaluating fusidic acid as a therapeutic option for treating drug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium, a sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen with increasing prevalence and antibiotic resistance. The project addresses a critical public health gap, as current first-line treatments (doxycycline and azithromycin) demonstrate diminishing efficacy, with azithromycin resistance exceeding 60% among U.S. strains and approaching 100% in high-risk populations. Second-line alternatives such as moxifloxacin face resistance rates exceeding 10% and carry contraindications for certain populations.

The deliverables under this grant encompass in vitro activity assessments, in vivo efficacy evaluation, and clinical development research to establish fusidic acid's potential as an approved treatment option in the United States. This research is positioned to generate evidence supporting the efficacy of an alternative antimicrobial agent against a pathogen for which highly effective treatments are currently unavailable, thereby expanding therapeutic options for patients with drug-resistant infections.