Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Cornell University received a $429,108 Project Grant award dated May 15, 2026, from the National Science Foundation's Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074). The award supports collaborative research investigating interspecific variation in antibody immunity through comparative genomic and phylogenetic approaches. The project will generate high-quality genome assemblies and expressed antibody repertoires across 60 mammalian species using advanced DNA and RNA sequencing technologies. Key deliverables include newly developed computational tools for analyzing immune gene data, identification of patterns explaining species differences in infection response capacity, and comprehensive datasets that will be made freely and publicly available to support future immunology and disease research.

The grant also supports significant workforce development and community-building activities through the training of graduate and undergraduate students in computational biology, genetics, and immunology. Graduate students will gain hands-on experience in both laboratory sequencing methods and advanced computational analysis, while undergraduates will participate in paid summer research positions. Additionally, the research team will host a working group to establish community standards for comparing immune gene data across species, establishing the foundation for a broader research consortium that extends beyond the project's completion date of April 30, 2029. These collaborative efforts are intended to facilitate future biotechnological advances in immunology and disease research.