Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $421,560 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on June 12, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. The research will be conducted at Virginia Tech's Blacksburg, Virginia campus and focuses on characterizing an alternative genetic pathway critical for Brucella virulence, specifically investigating the role of a transcriptional regulator called VtlR in the intracellular survival and pathogenesis of Brucella species within macrophages.

The project deliverables include fundamental biomedical research aimed at identifying and characterizing the "alternative regulon" controlled by VtlR in response to biologically relevant signals. Key research activities will examine the functional significance of cysteine residues in VtlR's cofactor/sensing domain and determine how VtlR regulates virulence-linked activity in Brucella, with particular emphasis on understanding intracellular survival mechanisms. The research outcomes are intended to advance scientific knowledge regarding bacterial pathogenesis and potentially inform future therapeutic strategies against brucellosis, a significant public health threat with limited treatment options and no safe, effective human vaccine currently available. This award supports investigator-initiated research aligned with NIAID's mission to expand understanding of infectious disease mechanisms.