Federal Project Grant Award Summary

New York University School of Medicine received a $836,484 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded May 19, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031. The project, titled "Vectored Immunoprophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 with Receptor Decoys," develops novel therapeutic and prophylactic approaches to overcome monoclonal antibody resistance in COVID-19 treatment. The research centers on creating high-affinity ACE2 receptor decoy proteins—composed of the extracellular domain of ACE2 fused to truncated immunoglobulin heavy chain Fc regions—that will be expressed via adeno-associated virus (AAV) and lentiviral vectors to neutralize all SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The deliverables include optimized receptor decoy candidates with enhanced spike protein affinity and modified Fc regions to control tissue localization and half-life, along with comprehensive preclinical efficacy and safety testing in ACE2 transgenic mouse and hamster models. The project will evaluate decoys in both recombinant protein form and as vector-expressed therapeutics via intranasal and intramuscular administration routes, with animals challenged against live virus up to one year post-administration. Results will establish the viability of receptor decoy-based immunoprophylaxis as a broad-spectrum, variant-resistant treatment strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised populations.