Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Salk Institute for Biological Studies a Project Grant totaling $161,868 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on June 5, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. This research initiative addresses critical gaps in understanding HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) drug resistance evolution, which currently affects approximately 40 million people worldwide living with HIV. The project deliverables encompass three integrated research components: (1) development and application of Potts sequence-covariation fitness landscape models using Stanford HIV Database sequences to identify epistatic interactions and the sequential order of mutations leading to drug-resistant variants; (2) structural and molecular characterization of resistance mechanisms through cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and multiscale molecular simulations targeting latest-generation antiretroviral therapy drugs; and (3) integration of these research methodologies within a reinforcement learning artificial intelligence framework to forecast future HIV drug resistance evolution.

The research products generated through this award are expected to provide mechanistic insights into how HIV resistance develops against current and emerging antiretroviral treatments, ultimately supporting the development of next-generation therapeutics capable of targeting drug-resistant variants. By combining computational modeling, structural biology, and artificial intelligence methodologies, the project aims to deliver actionable scientific knowledge that addresses an urgent public health need in infectious disease management and therapeutic development.