Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Duke University's Office of Research Administration received a $2.64 million Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded July 2, 2026, with completion scheduled for June 30, 2030. The grant supports basic biomedical research investigating the role of nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) in innate immune defenses against bacterial infection, utilizing Chromobacterium violaceum as an infectious disease model organism in mouse studies. The research aims to identify which cell types employ NOS2 in vivo to combat infection and to determine whether these cells possess specific metabolic adaptations that enable this antimicrobial function.

The project delivers original scientific research products focused on elucidating fundamental mechanisms of innate immunity, particularly the function and regulation of NOS2 across different immune cell populations. This basic research advances understanding of how the innate immune system neutralizes environmental pathogens and may ultimately inform therapeutic strategies for immunocompromised populations, including individuals with defects in reactive oxygen species generation. Research activities are conducted at Duke University's Durham, North Carolina facility and will contribute to the broader knowledge base in infectious disease immunology supported by NIAID's mission to prevent and treat infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.