Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $423,500 Project Grant (CFDA 93.855: Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research) to the Regents of the University of Minnesota on February 18, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2028. This award supports the development and validation of a systematic mouse model toolbox designed to elucidate the specific signal transduction pathways of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK). The research will generate engineered mutant mice in which individual effector functions are selectively disabled through targeted tyrosine-to-phenylalanine substitutions, rather than complete gene knockouts. This approach enables researchers to isolate and study the specific contributions of phagocytosis and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways independently, advancing understanding of TAM RTK biology across multiple disease contexts.

The research project addresses a critical gap in existing knowledge by determining which specific TAM RTK effector functions underlie observed phenotypes in endotoxic shock susceptibility, autoimmunity, fertility, retinal degeneration, and Alzheimer's disease progression. By providing functionally selective mouse models that preserve some signaling while ablating others, this toolbox will enable the scientific community to dissect pleiotropic receptor signaling in vivo and accelerate translational applications in immunology and neurodegenerative disease research.