Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai a Project Grant of $843,182 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective April 16, 2026, with completion scheduled for March 31, 2031. This five-year research initiative investigates the determinants of viral assembly and infectivity within the Ebola virus VP24 protein, specifically examining how this multifunctional 24 kilodalton protein blocks cellular interferon responses and facilitates viral genome packaging and infectious particle production. The research will elucidate the mechanisms by which VP24 interacts with importin A nuclear transport proteins to prevent STAT1 nuclear translocation, characterize VP24 nucleocytoplasmic trafficking pathways, and determine the molecular features required for nucleocapsid-like structure formation and actin-dependent transport—fundamental questions critical to understanding Ebola virus pathogenesis and developing control strategies.

The project deliverables encompass basic science research outputs including experimental data on VP24 protein trafficking dynamics, functional characterization of viral assembly mechanisms, identification of molecular determinants governing nucleocapsid-like structure competency, and mechanisms facilitating actin-dependent transport. Research findings will advance understanding of filovirus assembly and infectivity, potentially informing the development of antiviral therapeutics and vaccines targeting Ebola virus. The research will be conducted at Mount Sinai's New York, NY location (10029), leveraging the institution's established expertise in infectious disease research and sophisticated biomedical research capabilities.