Federal Grant Award Summary

Seattle Children's Research Institute received a $696,562 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded on May 5, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2031. This grant supports molecular and functional research on divergent mRNA export pathways in trypanosomatids, a group of parasitic protozoa. The research focuses on characterizing three distinct MEX67 paralogs (TBMEX67, TBMEX67B, and TBMEX67L) and their differential roles in mRNA export and ribosome biogenesis across different life cycle stages of the organism, specifically comparing the mammalian bloodstream form versus the insect procyclic form.

The primary deliverables include characterization of paralog-specific protein interactomes and RNA cargos of TBMEX67 and TBMEX67B, with the ultimate objective of determining whether these proteins function to differentially regulate gene expression through alternate mRNA export pathways. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding post-transcriptional gene regulation in organisms that lack individual gene promoter control, potentially advancing knowledge of parasitic disease mechanisms and informing therapeutic development for infectious diseases caused by trypanosomatids.