Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a Project Grant totaling $834,190 on July 15, 2026, to Massachusetts General Hospital's Research Management Division to conduct biomedical research on IgG4-related diseases (IgG4-RD) and related autoimmune conditions through the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The research will be performed in Boston, Massachusetts, with a completion date of June 30, 2031. The project delivers investigator-initiated biomedical research services focused on understanding post-translational modifications in IgG4 antibodies, specifically galactosylation (IgG4-GAL), and its role in autoimmune pathology across multiple disease indications.

Under this award, Massachusetts General Hospital will conduct integrated research combining biophysics, biochemistry, and cellular analysis to characterize IgG4-galactosylation patterns and their interaction with FcγRs (Fc gamma receptors) in patient populations. The research encompasses three primary objectives: determining the stability of IgG4-GAL across treatment courses in IgG4-RD; defining how IgG4-GAL and FcγR receptor alleles interact to promote inflammation; and assessing autoantigen-specific IgG glycosylation in muscle-specific kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK+ MG) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV). The deliverables include analysis of IgG from patient serum and cells, glycoengineered IgG4 receptor binding and effector assays, and research findings that advance understanding of antibody glycosylation biology relevant to immunologically mediated autoimmune diseases affecting approximately 5% of the U.S. population.