Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $234,000 Project Grant to the University of Maryland, College Park on May 26, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). This award supports research investigating phagosomal membrane repair pathways during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection through advanced single-cell and single-phagosome analysis techniques. The research will be conducted through April 30, 2028, and focuses on understanding how host cell mechanisms prevent pathogen escape and cell death—critical factors in MTB virulence.

The project will deliver three primary research products through integrated scientific objectives. First, spatio-temporal analysis of mycobacterium-containing vacuole (MCV) membrane repair will be expanded using novel host cell markers, primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs), and newly developed bioinformatics tools for enhanced image analysis. Second, a targeted genetic screen utilizing small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown will identify host proteins involved in MCV membrane repair, with results validated in HMDMs. Third, the research will characterize phagosomal membrane damage and repair dynamics across different mycobacterial species varying in virulence factors. Time-lapse microscopy will serve as the primary methodology for directly visualizing and deciphering membrane damage and repair processes, generating scientific knowledge intended to improve understanding of tuberculosis pathogenesis and inform future therapeutic approaches.