Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Iowa State University of Science and Technology received a $578,956 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 July 13, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The award funds research on the regulation of axoneme assembly during Plasmodium falciparum gametogenesis, with the primary objective of advancing scientific understanding of how flagellated male gametes develop and function during the sexual stage of malaria parasite reproduction.

The research addresses critical gaps in knowledge regarding microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) and their role in axoneme stability and assembly, leveraging the natural structural diversity of axonemes across species to study evolutionary mechanisms. By defining the regulatory pathways that govern axoneme formation in malaria parasites, this project seeks to identify potential vaccine targets directed at gametocytes—sexual stage parasites responsible for malaria transmission to mosquito vectors. The work is conducted at Iowa State University's facilities in Ames, Iowa, and contributes to broader NIAID efforts to develop new therapeutic and preventive strategies against a disease affecting 3.3 billion people globally and responsible for nearly 500,000 deaths annually.