Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $627,483 Project Grant to the University of Pennsylvania under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. This research initiative will generate scientific knowledge regarding how environmental perturbations determine the duration of enteric viral infections, specifically examining murine astrovirus (MuAstV) persistence mechanisms in animal models. The project will produce research findings on viral immune evasion strategies, the role of goblet cells as potential immune-privileged niches, and the glucocorticoid-CD8 T cell axis in stress-induced viral clearance, with particular focus on how routine environmental stressors such as cage change procedures influence infection outcomes.

The research will deliver fundamental mechanistic insights applicable to understanding human enteric viral infections and prolonged shedding phenomena observed with previously non-persistent RNA viruses. The findings are expected to elucidate how stress responses and glucocorticoid signaling modulate immune system reactions to viral pathogens, potentially informing clinical understanding of persistent infections and transmission dynamics. Research will be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania's facility in Philadelphia, PA, and will contribute to NIAID's broader mission of advancing biomedical research addressing infectious diseases and related immunologic disorders.