Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the Regents of the University of Minnesota a $713,107 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to investigate the molecular determinants and vulnerabilities of HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission. The award, effective February 20, 2026, and concluding January 31, 2031, supports basic science research examining how HIV-1 spreads between infected and uninfected CD4+ T cells through virological synapses—specialized contact sites more efficient at viral transmission than free virus infection. The research aims to elucidate mechanisms of cell-to-cell transmission (C-CT) that currently remain poorly understood due to significant technical obstacles, particularly in primary CD4+ T cells.

The primary deliverable of this research grant is scientific knowledge and data advancing understanding of HIV-1 pathogenesis, including the role of C-CT in viral replication within lymphoid tissues, viral reactivation following antiretroviral therapy discontinuation, and resistance mechanisms to small molecule drugs and broadly neutralizing antibodies. The University of Minnesota, through its Office of Sponsored Projects Administration, will conduct this research in Minneapolis, Minnesota, leveraging its established capacity as a major research institution with extensive experience executing NIH-funded biomedical research. The grant supports the proposed investigator-initiated research over the competitive five-year project period typical of NIAID Project Grants.