Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Stony Brook University a $787,580 Project Grant (CFDA 93.855: Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) effective June 22, 2026, through May 31, 2031, to investigate polymicrobial tickborne infection immunology in an endemic region of Long Island, New York. The research program addresses the rising incidence of Ixodes scapularis–transmitted infections, including Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) and babesiosis (Babesia microti), with particular focus on post-infectious syndromes and immune dysregulation. The investigative team will establish and maintain longitudinal cohorts of study volunteers enrolled during acute tickborne disease and followed for one year, interrogating immune responses to single and polymicrobial infections to test the central hypotheses that polymicrobial infection enhances clinical severity through early immune suppression and that persistent symptoms correlate with prolonged immune activation.

The deliverables from this multi-principal investigator R01-equivalent award will advance understanding of the natural history of tickborne diseases through longitudinal immunological characterization, comparative analysis of mono- versus polymicrobial infection outcomes, and investigation of mechanisms underlying post-infectious syndrome development and recovery timelines. Products are expected to include peer-reviewed publications, clinical and immunological datasets, and findings applicable to improved diagnostics, treatment protocols, and prevention strategies for tickborne infections in high-incidence regions.