Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded $746,017 to the Regents of the University of Michigan under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on April 23, 2026. This Project Grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining the role of common myeloid progenitor (CMP)-derived interleukin-9 (IL-9) in regulating gastrointestinal mast cell density and food allergy susceptibility. The research aims to advance understanding of immune mechanisms underlying food allergy, a condition with dramatically increasing prevalence among children in the United States, and to identify potential therapeutic targets for developing effective treatments beyond current food avoidance protocols.

The award funds research to be conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus through March 31, 2031. The primary deliverables include scientific investigations identifying IL-9-producing cell populations within the gastrointestinal tract, characterization of signals stimulating IL-9 induction in FcεRI+ CMPs, and mechanistic studies demonstrating the relationship between CMP-derived IL-9 and predisposition to food allergy. Findings are expected to generate novel insights into food allergy pathogenesis and establish a foundation for developing targeted immunological interventions to reduce disease incidence and severity.