Federal Grant Award Summary

Florida International University received a $777,999 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded June 10, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2030. The research project, titled "Airway Epithelial Defense Mechanisms in Combating STAT3-Deficiency-Related Lung Infections," investigates how airway epithelial cells defend against bacterial and fungal infections when Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) expression is reduced or absent. The project addresses a critical clinical gap: while STAT3 inhibitors are used therapeutically to treat cancers, STAT3 downregulation significantly increases host susceptibility to severe respiratory infections, including multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly in patients with autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (Job Syndrome).

The research focuses on identifying and characterizing STAT3-regulated antimicrobial molecules—particularly bactericidal permeability-increasing protein fold A1 (BPIFA1/SPLUNC1)—and their mechanisms in airway epithelial cell-derived host defense. The project's anticipated products include mechanistic discoveries regarding innate immunity pathways, identification of compensatory host defense mechanisms in STAT3-deficient conditions, and potential therapeutic insights to mitigate infection risk in both cancer patients receiving STAT3-targeted therapies and individuals with genetic STAT3 mutations.