Federal Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $778,828 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective April 6, 2026 through March 31, 2031. The award supports biomedical research investigating novel loss-of-function gene variants in ZFYVE21 and their role in dysregulated innate immunity. The project delivers integrated research products through a multidisciplinary team approach combining in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methodologies to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying ZFYVE21-Associated Disorder (ZAD), a previously uncharacterized condition characterized by mucosal pathologies including ulcerative colitis and immune dysregulation.

The research deliverables include the development of novel mouse models—specifically conditional loss-of-function models and mice systemically reconstituted with ZFYVE21 gene variants—to investigate how loss of function in ZFYVE21 promotes macrophage dysfunction and exacerbates colitis. The project generates scientific knowledge regarding innate signaling pathways, bacterial killing mechanisms, and intestinal homeostasis, with findings intended to advance understanding of complex autoimmune disease etiologies and identify therapeutic targets for inflammatory bowel disease treatment.