Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan $186,758.00 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on February 9, 2026. This Project Grant, with performance completion scheduled for January 31, 2028, funds biomedical research investigating infection-induced cellular mechanisms that promote macrophage inflammatory responses. The research focuses on how bacterial pathogens, specifically methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), trigger mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic remodeling in macrophages without inducing cell division, with the ultimate goal of understanding how these cellular processes support acute inflammatory cytokine production and host defense mechanisms.

The research deliverables include scientific investigation employing chemogenomics approaches to elucidate the connections between cell cycle regulation and mitochondrial form-function relationships during bacterial infection. The project will generate mechanistic insights into a specialized inflammatory biogenesis program that allows macrophages to expand organelles for acute metabolic demands while simultaneously blocking DNA synthesis during periods of heightened oxidative stress. The research will be conducted at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus and is expected to contribute to fundamental understanding of innate immune responses and potentially inform the development of therapeutics targeting infectious disease pathogenesis.