Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Pennsylvania $196,020.00 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for a Project Grant effective April 14, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. This research initiative will investigate the impact of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and microbiome changes on outcomes in heart transplant recipients, addressing a critical gap in understanding post-transplant bloodstream infection (BSI) complications. The study will examine how temporary MCS devices—such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon pumps—alter the skin and gut microbiome of orthotopic heart transplant recipients and contribute to infection risk in this immunosuppressed patient population.

The project will deliver comprehensive research findings through retrospective and prospective cohort analysis conducted at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Primary deliverables include identification of risk factors for post-transplant BSI in heart transplant recipients with emphasis on MCS use, characterization of how MCS influences skin and gut microbiome composition, and elucidation of mechanisms linking BSI to adverse graft function and mortality outcomes. By advancing scientific understanding of infection pathogenesis in transplant recipients, this research will inform clinical strategies to mitigate BSI complications and improve post-transplant survival rates among this vulnerable patient population.