Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded $191,916 to the University of California, Davis under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on May 20, 2026, for a project period extending through April 30, 2031. This Project Grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining Candida albicans gastrointestinal colonization resistance through a genetics-based approach. The research addresses the critical public health challenge of invasive candidiasis, which carries approximately 50% mortality rates in disseminated disease and disproportionately affects individuals with hematologic malignancies. The study will generate foundational scientific knowledge regarding how C. albicans colonizes the gastrointestinal tract, with particular focus on oxygen availability and carbohydrate metabolism as mechanisms enabling pathogenic colonization.

The research deliverables include experimental investigations utilizing C. albicans mutant strains across multiple murine and in vitro models to elucidate the role of sorbitol catabolism in gastrointestinal colonization, as well as evaluation of 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA) as a potential preventive therapeutic agent for invasive candidiasis. By establishing mechanistic understanding of microbial colonization factors and identifying pharmacological approaches to restore colonization resistance, this project aims to generate scientific foundations for developing novel prevention strategies that may reduce reliance on antifungal prophylaxis and address the escalating challenge of antifungal-resistant breakthrough infections in immunocompromised populations.