About the Institute
The Institute for Tuberculosis Research (ITR), located at the University of Illinois Chicago, is a drug discovery research facility working on the development of new drugs to combat an old, but still evolving, global public health threat. The ITR is unique in that it brings an industrial model of drug discovery into an academic environment. In Chicago, we have assembled all the necessary disciplines – microbiology, medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry, structural biology, biochemistry, drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics – under one roof to maximize efficiency and communication. The ITR’s focus on natural products led to identification of two ClpC1 modulators and inclusion in a NIH Center for Excellence in Translational Research where the project is currently in late lead optimization. In addition to in-house discovery projects, we also collaborate with numerous public and private sector institutions worldwide to support their efforts towards the same goal.
Located in Chicago, our members come from 14 different countries. Our group includes 4 full-time and 2 part-time primary faculty, 6 affiliate faculty from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 4 adjunct faculty, 4 postdoctoral scientists, 3 technicians, 4 graduate students and a business manager.
Our research is supported by the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, the National Institutes of Health, fee-for-service arrangements from industry, and a patent royalty stream. Our annual budget consists of over 2.5 million dollars.