Project Grant R16AI203189

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus $149,000 on September 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to investigate FH15-mediated modulation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling in neutrophils as a therapeutic approach for sepsis and ulcerative colitis.

The research tests whether FH15, a recombinant molecule derived from the Fasciola hepatica fatty acid binding protein family, suppresses inflammatory pathways in animal models and human neutrophils. Prior work funded under a companion SC1 grant demonstrated that a single intraperitoneal dose of FH15 administered to mice one hour before or after lethal lipopolysaccharide or live E. coli infusion significantly suppresses cytokine storm and inflammatory markers in sepsis models, and that three spaced doses improve disease activity in dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis models. The previous award generated one patent, approximately five publications, and supported three PhD and one master's degree graduates.

The central hypothesis posits that FH15 modulates TLR4/NF-κB signaling to reduce extracellular DNA concentrations and suppress netosis, a form of neutrophil cell death associated with inflammatory disease. The award supports this continuation research through August 31, 2030, with place of performance in Puerto Rico. This is a project grant, the standard assistance type for individual investigator-directed research under the program.