Project Grant R01AI183668

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $841,520 Project Grant (CFDA 93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, doing business as the Health Sciences Division. The funding will support a 5-year research project to characterize microbial biomarkers associated with multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) colonization and infection in solid organ transplant recipients. The researchers will leverage existing sample collections and apply advanced metagenomic sequencing techniques to develop machine learning models that predict MDRO status and clearance based on gut microbiome profiles. The goal is to provide a predictive framework to guide clinical management of MDRO colonization in high-risk patient populations and identify potential therapeutic targets for future investigation. This research aligns with NIAID's broader efforts to address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance through novel diagnostic and treatment approaches.