Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pittsburgh received a $437,250 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded February 4, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2028. This award supports the systematic development and evaluation of a rationally designed bacteriophage (phage) cocktail targeting multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. The research initiative leverages a large collection of contemporary MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from 28 medical centers to assemble and characterize phage cocktails that can be combined with beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) antibiotic combinations currently used to treat such infections.

The project addresses an urgent clinical need, as MDR P. aeruginosa poses a critical global health threat for which new therapeutic approaches are essential. The University of Pittsburgh's research team will deliver a scientifically rigorous evaluation of phage therapy efficacy, moving beyond single-patient compassionate use cases treated at UPMC and other institutions to establish the feasibility of phage therapy as a standardized antimicrobial treatment option. The anticipated products include a characterized multi-phage cocktail targeting diverse contemporary MDR P. aeruginosa isolates and evidence demonstrating improved antibacterial efficacy when phage therapy is paired with existing antibiotic regimens.