Federal Grant Award Summary

Duke University's Office of Research Administration received a $610,124 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective February 4, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2031. The award funds research into BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin)-mediated immunotherapy against recurrent bladder infections caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). The research addresses a significant public health burden, as bladder infections and their recurrence cost approximately $3.5 billion annually in the United States, with current antibiotic treatments proving largely ineffective against persistent bacterial infections.

The primary products and services delivered through this research grant include: (1) identification of cellular targets of BCG uptake and persistence in bladder tissue; (2) characterization of the immunological basis of cross-protection induced by combined BCG and epithelial disruptor peptide treatment; and (3) evaluation of the efficacy and durability of an optimized intravesical formulation combining epithelial disruptor peptide, BCG, and UPEC antigens for combating recurrent bladder infections. The research leverages BCG's FDA-approved status for bladder cancer treatment to develop a novel, long-lasting immunotherapeutic strategy that recruits E. coli-specific TH1 cells, potentially providing sustained protective immunity against recurrent bladder infections without reliance on conventional antibiotics.