# Center to develop innovative therapeutics to multidrug resistant high-threat bacterial agents

> **NIH NIH U19** · HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $6,638,108

## Abstract

Abstract
An epidemic of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections plagues US and global health care, and with few
new drugs making it to market from an improving but still diminished pipeline, there is an unmet medical need
for new therapeutics to treat clinically important high-threat multidrug-resistant infections. High-threat agents
comprise Gram negative (GN) and Gram positive (GP) ESKAPE pathogens including Carbapenem-resistant
Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), MRSA and multidrug- and extremely drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). Our CETR hypothesis postulates that an enterprise-style Center
comprised of world-class academic and biopharma investigators with innovative and well-established drug
discovery platforms focused on clinically validated and novel targets, promising Leads, and innovative
approaches for new compound discovery will serve as an engine to develop selected optimized Leads and
Preclinical Development Candidates (PDCs) against high-threat MDR GP and GN bacteria. We propose to:
target clinically-successful bacterial targets by exploring novel classes of compounds against RNA polymerase
and separately use drug ‘repositioning’ as a novel high-probability-to-succeed drug discovery strategy against
NTMs; characterize novel compounds against key enzymes of mycolic acid biosynthesis in M. tuberculosis;
exploit untapped environmentally-derived novel peptidic compound libraries as a rich source for new
antibiotics, and develop O-antigen biosynthetic inhibitory agents that potentiate serum-mediated killing. Our
approach builds upon and refines our current successful CETR model. Critical factors for success include the
enterprise-style approach to drug discovery/development, the strength of Project Leaders with robust drug
discovery programs and partnerships with biopharma, a highly integrated matrix of mature drug discovery
support cores with experienced Core directors, strong central leadership, and outstanding infrastructure with
the Rutgers Regional Biocontainment Lab. Collectively, these components comprise a CETR enterprise that
will streamline the discovery and advancement of compounds through the optimization process toward PDCs
by facilitating critical “go, no-go” decisions. The overall program will be guided by an accomplished researcher,
administrator, and current CETR leader in drug discovery, a Scientific Advisory Committee well versed in drug
development, and a solid operations and management team that is experienced in large translational research
programs resulting in IP and licensing to develop clinical products.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9923564
- **Project number:** 5U19AI142731-02
- **Recipient organization:** HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** David S Perlin
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $6,638,108
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9923564

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9923564, Center to develop innovative therapeutics to multidrug resistant high-threat bacterial agents (5U19AI142731-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9923564. Licensed CC0.

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