Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Connecticut Health Center received a $825,050 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031. This five-year research initiative will investigate glycosylated RNA (glycoRNA) and its role in controlling immune homeostasis. The research will characterize the structural features of glycans that shield glycoRNAs from endosomal toll-like receptor (TLR) sensing machinery, elucidate the underlying shielding mechanisms, and define how pathogenic bacteria remodel cell surface glycoRNA features during mammalian cell infection. The project addresses a critical knowledge gap by establishing the first comprehensive understanding of glycosylation on small noncoding RNAs and its functional significance in innate immune regulation.

The award supports three coordinated research aims designed to advance fundamental immunological science with potential implications for understanding immune surveillance and pathogen-host interactions. Deliverables include characterization of glycan features preventing immune activation, mechanistic insights into innate immune evasion, and functional analysis of bacterial-induced glycoRNA remodeling during infection. This basic science research contributes to NIAID's broader mission of supporting investigator-initiated biomedical research addressing infectious diseases and immunologic disorders through rigorous peer-reviewed investigation at an eligible academic medical research institution.