Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Virginia received a $256,725 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period May 21, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The award funds investigator-initiated biomedical research examining catecholamine-mediated iron acquisition mechanisms in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), the causative agent of gonorrhea. This research addresses an urgent public health need, as gonorrhea infection rates are rising concurrently with increasing antibiotic resistance and the absence of an effective vaccine.

The research project focuses on elucidating how GC overcomes iron limitation during human infection by investigating the role of catecholamines—specifically norepinephrine—in facilitating bacterial iron acquisition from human hosts. The study employs metabolomics, molecular biology, and microbiology methodologies to characterize catecholamine-mediated signaling pathways and iron-regulatory gene expression in GC. The findings are intended to advance understanding of GC pathogenic mechanisms and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets to combat this sexually transmitted infection, thereby supporting NIAID's mission to improve public health outcomes through innovative infectious disease research.