Project Grant R01AI196346

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Sloan-Kettering Institute For Cancer Research a Project Grant totaling $3,519,992 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective March 1, 2026, with completion targeted for February 28, 2030. This grant supports the development of computational and microbiome-based clinical tools to predict, prevent, and mitigate gut-borne bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients. The research team will deliver three primary products: (1) computational risk forecasting models that predict infection likelihood based on microbiome dynamics; (2) antibiotic stewardship optimization protocols designed to minimize collateral damage to beneficial gut bacteria; and (3) precision probiotic formulations engineered to restore microbiome defenses against opportunistic pathogens.

The project integrates large-scale clinical microbiome datasets spanning over 1,000 immunocompromised patients with advanced machine learning, ecological modeling, and experimental validation using both in vitro and in vivo systems. By translating microbiome science into actionable clinical tools, this research aims to shift clinical practice from reactive antibiotic treatment toward proactive microbiome management strategies, advancing mechanistic understanding of gut microbiome ecology and protection against pathogenic translocation into the bloodstream.