Pereira Lab

The Pereira lab develops first-in-class peptide therapeutics inspired by the neutrophil protein CAP37 to address multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. We focus on high-impact settings—especially ocular and pulmonary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa—to translate innate immune biology into new treatment options.

BP001: CAP37-inspired peptide for bacterial keratitis and corneal wound healing

BP001 is in preclinical development for bacterial keratitis and corneal wound healing following ocular injury, which can lead to partial or complete vision loss. In the U.S., microbial keratitis drives nearly 1 million physician visits annually; ~90% of cases involve Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, with contact lens wear the leading risk factor and the most severe disease often caused by Pseudomonas. IND-enabling studies are underway to support a future investigational new drug (IND) application.

BP002: CAP37-derived peptide for multidrug-resistant lung infection

This program targets multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa lung infections associated with cystic fibrosis (CF), hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). P. aeruginosa infections are devastating for the ~70,000 people living with CF worldwide. Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa also contributes to HAP and VAP, with ~500,000 (HAP) and 100,000 (VAP) new cases annually and mortality >25%. Our studies are in the early proof-of-concept stage. Given limited and increasingly ineffective antibiotics—and declining approvals—we are developing BP002 as a novel-mechanism therapeutic designed to reduce the likelihood of resistance.