Federal Grant Award Summary

Emory University received a $195,625 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on June 8, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. The grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research to characterize the role of the DEAH-box RNA helicase DHX29 during class switch recombination (CSR) in B cells. Research deliverables include mapping structural and functional domains of DHX29 essential for CSR, identifying RNA substrates targeted by DHX29 during this process, and evaluating DHX29's role in antibody diversification. The research leverages Emory's expertise in B cell immunology, RNA biology, and functional genomics to advance understanding of genetic factors regulating CSR, a critical process in adaptive immunity that enables B cells to generate diverse protective antibody responses.

The project builds upon preliminary findings from a genome-wide loss-of-function screen that identified DHX29 as a novel CSR regulator. Researchers will investigate DHX29's previously unexplored nuclear functions, focusing on its role in facilitating resolution of RNA:DNA hybrid intermediates at immunoglobulin switch regions through interaction with the RNA exosome complex. The research is expected to generate scientific knowledge and methodological advances relevant to host defense mechanisms and vaccine efficacy, consistent with NIAID's mission to support research addressing infectious diseases and immunologic disorders.