Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $381,671 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. The award funds research investigating pyrazine and pyrazinone chemical signaling pathways in Klebsiella species and related bacteria within the human microbiome. The research aims to characterize how these signaling mechanisms regulate bacterial metabolism, biofilm formation, and iron metabolism in response to host carbohydrate utilization, particularly the degradation of human mucin and metabolism of sialic acid (Neu5Ac). This fundamental research contributes to understanding bacterial-host interactions relevant to opportunistic pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella strains classified as ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae) pathogens.

The award supports Yale's capacity to conduct sophisticated biomedical research through investigator-initiated project grants, a primary NIGMS funding mechanism designed to advance fundamental biological understanding and establish foundations for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The four-year project period reflects NIGMS's typical funding timeline for discrete research projects that expand knowledge of biological processes relevant to human health.