Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Pittsburgh $130,564 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. This Project Grant supports research investigating the host determinants of Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) immunity and neuropathogenesis. The research employs animal models to characterize how EV-D68 infection causes poliomyelitis-like paralysis in young children, examining the interplay between viral replication in spinal motor neurons and immune-mediated injury. Key deliverables include scientific investigation of viral tropism, virulence, immune responses, and the role of specific immune mechanisms—including chemokine signaling, T-cell function, perforin-mediated cytotoxicity, and type I interferon responses—in disease pathogenesis, with particular focus on age-dependent susceptibility differences.

The research directly addresses a significant public health gap, as EV-D68 mechanisms of paralysis remain poorly understood and therapeutic options are currently limited to supportive care. The findings are intended to inform future therapeutic development and improve clinical management of EV-D68-associated neurological disease in pediatric populations.