Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the University of California, Irvine $823,548 on May 11, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to develop antimalarial and antibabesial clinical candidates based on leelamine-derived isonitriles. The research focuses on creating dual-acting therapeutic agents targeting Plasmodium falciparum and Babesia species, the causative agents of human malaria and babesiosis, respectively. The project leverages preliminary findings demonstrating that the lead compound GB-79 exhibits potent activity against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant P. falciparum strains, as well as key human-infective Babesia species, with favorable therapeutic indices and mechanisms of action distinct from existing antiparasitic drugs.

The five-year project, scheduled for completion by April 30, 2031, will deliver biological activity evaluations, pharmacological characterization, structure-activity relationship studies, and safety assessments of GB-79 and its synthetic analogues. This research addresses critical public health needs, including rising drug resistance in malaria treatment and the emerging threat of babesiosis in the United States and globally. The work will generate scientific data, chemical compounds, and therapeutic candidates intended to advance understanding of parasite biology and support the development of novel treatment options for these significant infectious diseases.