Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Indiana University Indianapolis a $435,875 Project Grant under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on July 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for June 30, 2028. This award funds research to identify intervention points within the cell-autonomous immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis infection that could promote bacterial clearance without broad-spectrum antibiotic use. The research addresses a significant public health need, as approximately 2 million people are infected with C. trachomatis annually in the United States, with long-term disease sequelae including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy.

The project will investigate host transcriptome and proteome changes during chlamydial infection using low-passage primary cells and cell lines to better understand robust immune responses to the intracellular pathogen. This research builds on recent findings indicating that low-passage cell lines maintain stronger immune responses compared to commonly used high-passage cell lines. The deliverables include scientific findings and methodology that could lead to development of novel therapeutic approaches to enhance natural C. trachomatis clearance in infected individuals, particularly among the approximately 20 percent of women who spontaneously clear infection through mechanisms not yet fully understood.