Projects_healing_clays

Our Bold Idea

By using natural nanomaterials found in specific clayminerals, we can develop inexpensive, highly-effectiveantimicrobials to fight methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) infections that are moving out of healthcare settings and into the community.

Our Inspiration

We use maggots and leeches in hospitals, so why notclay?” Haydel poses. “I had a professor in graduateschool say, ‘Maybe perhaps once in your life, in yourscientific career, you’ll come across something that canchange the world.’ Sometimes I think: Is this it? Will this help some people?”.

Our Impact

“Our goal is to understand the details of natural mineralmixtures, so we can, in the future, perhaps generatemineral mixtures that mimic the chemical compositionsand environment, so that the antibacterial activity can be controlled and ensured against these “superbugs” that are increasingly resistant to multiple antibiotics.

 

haydel.png

Shelley Haydel, PhD
Associate Professor
Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology