Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pittsburgh received a $157,788 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded April 6, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. This award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining interleukin-33 (IL-33) signaling mechanisms in multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. The research will investigate how IL-33 regulates pathologic immune-glial interactions, specifically focusing on IL-33-mediated regulatory T cell (Treg) activation and the downstream production of amphiregulin as a potential therapeutic target to halt MS progression and promote remyelination.

The project deliverables include basic science research activities utilizing transgenic animal models and single-cell RNA sequencing techniques to characterize the impact of IL-33 signaling on glial cell phenotypes in experimental autoimmune encephalitis models. The research aims to establish foundational knowledge regarding IL-33-induced amphiregulin production and its role in reducing reactive astrocytes and supporting oligodendrocyte precursor cell-mediated remyelination, ultimately contributing to the scientific evidence base for developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches to treat progressive MS. This award supports the university's research infrastructure and capacity to conduct sophisticated translational and basic science investigations addressing infectious and immunologic disease mechanisms.