Federal Grant Award Summary

Northwestern University's Sponsored Research Division received a $240,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective May 8, 2026, with a completion date of April 30, 2028. The award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining LAG3 (Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3) regulation of microglial functions in the context of autoimmune neuroinflammation. The research utilizes microglia-specific LAG3-mutant mouse models to test the hypothesis that LAG3 regulates microglial activation and function, with implications for understanding and potentially treating neurological autoimmune disorders such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

The primary deliverables from this award consist of fundamental research findings that advance scientific knowledge regarding inhibitory co-receptor signaling in myeloid lineage cells and their role in central nervous system inflammation. This basic science research is intended to generate novel insights into microglial biology and autoimmune neuroinflammation mechanisms that may inform future therapeutic approaches. Work will be performed at Northwestern University's Chicago, Illinois campus under the Sponsored Research Division's administration of federal research funding and compliance requirements.