Grant Award Summary

New York University School of Medicine received a $808,523 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. The award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining the role of the FLI1 transcription factor in T follicular helper (TFH) cell differentiation and humoral immune responses. The research focuses on understanding how calcium signaling through CRAC (Calcium Release-Activated Calcium) channels regulates chromatin accessibility and transcription factor function during TFH cell development, with particular emphasis on ETS family transcription factors whose binding sites are calcium-dependent and critical to antibody production and immune defense against infectious pathogens.

This basic science investigation generates scientific knowledge and methodological advances intended to improve understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying effective antibody responses to influenza and other viral infections, as well as disease mechanisms in allergies and autoimmune conditions. The research deliverables include peer-reviewed publications documenting experimental findings on calcium-dependent gene regulation in TFH cells, novel insights into chromatin remodeling mechanisms, and foundational data supporting potential therapeutic interventions targeting T cell-mediated immune responses.