Jeffrey P. Henderson, MD, PhD, FIDSA, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology, WashU Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, recently received an award from the Hypothesis Fund. In order to understand the interplay between bacteria and the immune system, Henderson uses an interdisciplinary approach. His project may revolutionize our understanding of how bacteria evade host defenses. Henderson adds, “We are hopeful this will produce new insights that help patients avoid or recover from common bacterial infections, including those in which antibiotic resistance causes problems.”

The Hypothesis Fund advances scientific knowledge by supporting early stage, innovative research that increases their adaptability against systemic risks to the health of people and the planet.
The Hypothesis Fund makes seed grants to fund research projects at their earliest stages, typically before there is any preliminary data. An award from the Hypothesis Fund is intended to be catalytic — a fast path to enable a scientist to ‘turn over the card’ and see what’s there. They focus on bold new ideas in basic research, not continuations of existing research. The Hypothesis Fund empowers a world-class and diverse network of scientist Scouts to identify the high-risk, high-reward ideas at the edge of the network that would otherwise be un-pursued or underfunded.
Dr. Henderson’s project was recommended by Hypothesis Fund Scout, Dianne Newman, PhD, who shares, “Dr. Henderson seeks to test a new hypothesis about a mechanism of innate immunity against bacterial infections. His project brings a bioinorganic chemistry perspective to a health puzzle, and if successful, will lead to insights with the potential to enable more effective approaches to sensitizing pathogens to the immune system.”

The Hypothesis Fund gave us a green light to explore an unconventional hypothesis that may tie together seemingly disparate concepts in human resistance to bacterial infections.
The Hypothesis Fund shares that Dr. Henderson and his project, “Host-modulated redox active metal ion toxicity in microbial killing and virulence”, was selected for the boldness of the science, his willingness to take risks and go after a big idea, and the potential long-term impact of his work.