Project Grant R21AI191069

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a Project Grant of $412,422 to The Regents of the University of Colorado-Denver (February 1, 2026 – January 31, 2028) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The grant funds biomedical research investigating the regulation of Candida glabrata, a leading cause of invasive candidiasis with mortality rates up to 60%, within the intestinal microbiome. The research will identify immunoglobulin A (IgA)-targeted fungal effectors responsible for epithelial adhesion and invasive infection, and assess the impact of anti-C. glabrata IgA responses in regulating pathogenic strain persistence in the gut. The project leverages animal models of intestinal colonization and strain variability analysis to elucidate protective mucosal immune mechanisms, with findings intended to inform therapeutic development for preventing opportunistic infections in medically vulnerable populations.

This investigator-initiated research project delivers scientific knowledge advancing understanding of how intestinal immunity limits fungal pathogenesis, a critical gap in infectious disease research. The award supports basic and translational research activities conducted at the University of Colorado-Denver's Aurora, Colorado campus and is subject to standard NIH administrative, audit, and financial record retention requirements for a two-year competitive grant period.