Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Vermont & State Agricultural College received a $176,094 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded on June 15, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. This award supports hit-to-lead development research focused on imidazopyridine-containing compounds (ICCs) as novel therapeutics for babesiosis, an emerging tick-borne infectious disease caused by the Babesia parasite for which existing antimicrobials are inadequate, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

The research deliverables include three primary objectives: (1) target identification to confirm that ICCs inhibit methionyl tRNA synthetase (MetRS) in Babesia through enzyme assays and recombinant protein expression studies; (2) characterization of drug resistance potential through CRISPR/Cas9 generation of resistant Babesia strains and in vitro spontaneous selection with whole genome sequencing; and (3) proof-of-efficacy demonstration in a mouse disease model. The project builds upon prior in vitro studies showing 28 identified ICC compounds with potent growth inhibition of Babesia duncani at nanomolar concentrations and murine pharmacokinetic data supporting therapeutic feasibility, ultimately aimed at advancing these antimicrobial candidates toward clinical development.