Federal Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $240,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective February 6, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2028. The research project, conducted in Chicago, Illinois, investigates human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced R-loops and their role in regulating innate immune gene expression. The study focuses on understanding how aberrant R-loops—trimeric nucleic acid structures formed during viral replication—activate DNA damage repair pathways (ATM and ATR) necessary for productive viral replication and how maintaining elevated R-loop levels suppresses innate immune regulatory genes.

The project delivers basic biomedical research examining the molecular mechanisms underlying HPV pathogenesis, specifically exploring the relationship between R-loop formation, viral genome amplification in differentiated cells, episomal maintenance in undifferentiated cells, and immune evasion. The research addresses how viral proteins manipulate cellular DNA damage repair pathways and transcriptional regulation to facilitate productive infection. This investigator-initiated research contributes to scientific knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms and viral-host cell interactions, advancing understanding that may inform future therapeutic and preventive strategies for HPV-related diseases.