Project Grant P01AI197187

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Baylor College of Medicine received a $2.36 million project grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), with award commencement on June 15, 2026 and completion targeted for April 30, 2031. The grant supports research to develop multimodal biological approaches for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) infections at human mucosal surfaces, including intestinal, nasal, bladder, and vaginal sites. The research initiative employs microbiome-based strategies and bacteriophage precision-targeting methodologies as alternatives to traditional antibiotics, with the objective of controlling pathogenic bacterial colonization while preserving beneficial native microbiota. The project encompasses four primary research initiatives supported by two scientific cores and an administrative core, including specialized phage-based therapies for pathogenic E. coli decolonization, biotherapeutic nasal decolonization strategies, and precision methodologies for eradicating AMR pathogens.

The award directly addresses the urgent public health challenge of antimicrobial resistance by investigating ecological principles of microbial community inhibition and advancing non-antibiotic treatment modalities that maintain host microbiome integrity. As a research-intensive academic medical center with established expertise in infectious disease research and biomedical investigation, Baylor College of Medicine leverages its institutional capabilities in genomics, immunology, and specialized laboratory services to develop and optimize therapeutic candidates intended to improve clinical outcomes and advance scientific understanding of host-pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces.