Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of Maryland, College Park a $1.575 million Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to conduct structural and biochemical characterization of hepatitis C virus (HCV) E1E2 glycoproteins for vaccine development purposes. The award, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, supports research addressing the global burden of HCV infection, which affects approximately 58 million individuals worldwide with an estimated 1–2 million new infections annually. The project focuses on understanding how different classes of E1E2 glycoproteins—the primary target of protective antibody responses—exhibit varying susceptibility to neutralization, a critical gap that has hindered vaccine development efforts despite major advances in direct-acting antivirals.

The research team will produce structural and immunological data on native E1E2 heterodimers across multiple HCV genotypes using a recently developed secreted E1E2 heterodimer platform that retains key antigenic features of the native glycoprotein. Deliverables include structural analyses compatible with single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, identification of epitopes accessible in neutralization-sensitive and neutralization-resistant viruses, and recovery of monoclonal antibodies specific to native E1E2 heterodimeric states—all critical products for advancing rational vaccine design against HCV infection.