Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. received a $248,943.00 Project Grant award from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) under the Human Genome Research program (CFDA 93.172), effective May 11, 2026, with a completion date of February 28, 2029. This award funds research investigating the genomic basis of variation in transcriptional responses to pathogens across primate species. The research will characterize how genetic variation—both within and between primate species—influences gene expression responses to immune stimuli using in vitro assays and single-cell sequencing methodologies on peripheral blood cells. The project will employ chromatin accessibility profiling to identify key regulatory elements and gene regulatory mechanisms that mediate the relationship between genetic variation and immune response phenotypes.

The deliverables from this research initiative will contribute to understanding gene-by-environment (GxE) interactions in immune function and disease susceptibility, with particular emphasis on identifying cell type-, stimulus-, and species-specific GxE interactions. By examining causal connections between genetic variants and variation in gene expression responses to pathogenic challenges, this project advances fundamental genomic science in functional genomics and comparative genomics relevant to infectious disease susceptibility. The research aligns with NHGRI's mission to accelerate scientific and medical breakthroughs through cutting-edge genomic research and will generate insights applicable to precision medicine and understanding the molecular basis for differences in pathogen susceptibility across primate populations.