Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a Project Grant totaling $182,196 to The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the project period June 4, 2026 through May 31, 2028. The award funds research into antibody-driven bioconjugation strategies designed to chemically modify primary immune cells and disease-associated proteins. This research aims to develop a modular, cost-effective approach to redirect immune cell cytotoxicity toward diseased targets by equipping immune receptors with new functional capabilities through proximity-based bioconjugation reactions.

The project deliverables include the synthesis and characterization of a panel of antibody conjugates containing electrophilic linkers and customizable payloads, comprehensive mass spectrometry-based analysis of conjugate reactivity and specificity with target antigens both in vitro and on cellular surfaces, and the development of an optimization roadmap correlating reaction parameters with molecular properties. The research ultimately aims to establish practical cell-based therapeutic modalities that leverage chemical engineering approaches as an alternative to genetic cell engineering methods for immunological applications.