Federal Grant Award Summary

The Pennsylvania State University received a $464,371 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Environmental Biology under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), effective May 15, 2026 through April 30, 2029. This collaborative research initiative will conduct the first systematic comparative analysis of immune genes and antibodies across 60 mammalian species using state-of-the-art deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing technologies. The project will generate high-quality genome assemblies focused on immune-related genes, develop novel computational tools for data analysis, and produce expressed antibody repertoires to identify patterns explaining interspecific variation in immune capacity and infectious disease response.

All research outputs, including genome assemblies, software tools, and datasets, will be made freely and publicly available to the broader scientific community, establishing a foundational resource for immunology and disease research with potential applications in biotechnology advancement. The award supports meaningful workforce development through graduate student training in computational biology, genetics, and immunology—combining laboratory sequencing methods with advanced computational analysis—and paid summer research positions for undergraduate students. Additionally, the project will establish a working group to develop community standards for comparing immune gene data across species, creating infrastructure for a broader research consortium that will extend collaborative efforts beyond the grant period.