Federal Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $922,840 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 February 2, 2026, through January 31, 2031. The award funds research investigating inducible hepatic-associated lymphoid tissue (IHALT) and the generation and maintenance of long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) in response to hepatotropic viral infections. Using a rodent hepacivirus (RHV) model that mimics hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection characteristics, the research examines why strictly liver-tropic viruses generate delayed and poor-quality antibody responses compared to systemic infections. The project will characterize antibody-secreting cell responses arising within the liver and determine the mechanisms by which the liver serves as a site for generating and maintaining durable viral-specific antibodies critical for viral resolution.

The research deliverables include comprehensive investigations of how, when, and where hepatic antibody responses are generated during chronic hepatotropic viral infection, with particular focus on identifying cognate anchoring pairs that tether long-lived plasma cells to hepatic stromal niches. By elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying hepatic immune responses to strictly liver-tropic viruses, this project advances fundamental knowledge of antiviral immunity that may inform vaccine development and therapeutic interventions for hepatitis C and related hepatotropic viral infections. The work will be conducted at Emory University's Atlanta, Georgia facility.