Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Virginia $717,952 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to conduct investigator-initiated biomedical research on Chlamydia trachomatis pathogenesis. The project, initiated February 9, 2026, and extending through January 31, 2031, focuses on identifying and characterizing essential chlamydia-specific factors to advance the development of effective therapeutics and vaccines. The research will investigate how a single inclusion membrane protein mediates non-vesicular trafficking of sphingolipids to preserve the integrity of the chlamydia replicative niche, using a multidisciplinary approach to elucidate fundamental biological mechanisms underlying host lipid acquisition and disease pathogenesis.

This project addresses a critical public health priority, as Chlamydia trachomatis remains the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections with no available vaccine. The research deliverables will advance scientific knowledge of disease mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic and vaccine targets by revealing how specific chlamydia proteins contribute to pathogenesis and niche maintenance, thereby supporting NIAID's mission to improve public health outcomes through enhanced understanding of infectious diseases.