Federal Grant Award Summary

Duke University's Office of Research Administration received a $783,701 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective May 22, 2026, through April 30, 2031. The grant supports investigator-initiated research to elucigate the mechanisms governing B cell evolution and plasma cell differentiation in the context of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) development against HIV. The research utilizes a reproducible knockin mouse model system to test hypotheses about how precursor bNAb B cells develop into mature plasma cells capable of producing durable, protective antibodies in blood serum.

The primary deliverables include high-throughput antibody sequencing of plasma cells from immunized mice, production and characterization of selected antibody sequences, and experimental measurement of HIV neutralization capacity across multiple viral strains. Through this integrated approach, the research aims to identify which individual plasma cells contribute to total serum neutralization capacity and determine critical evolutionary events during B cell maturation. These findings are intended to advance understanding of antibody generation mechanisms and inform the development of improved immunotherapies and medical countermeasures for HIV infection.