Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a Project Grant of $161,774 to Stony Brook University (through The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York) on July 17, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The research extends through June 30, 2028, and focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of cognate CD4+ T cell help to monocyte-derived macrophages during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The project will identify signaling pathways—specifically CD40-CD40 ligand interactions—that induce glycolytic metabolism in infected macrophages and determine whether toxic aldehydes generated through glycolysis restrict bacterial growth. Research activities include in vivo measurement of bacterial gene expression to identify stress response pathways induced during T cell-mediated immune assistance.

This basic research initiative addresses fundamental gaps in understanding immune-mediated tuberculosis control, with potential applications toward developing more effective therapeutic strategies for a disease that remains the leading cause of infectious mortality worldwide. Deliverables will include peer-reviewed publications and mechanistic insights into how adaptive immune responses promote intracellular bacterial clearance, contributing to the NIAID's broader mission to advance biomedical research on infectious diseases.