Federal Grant Award Summary

Weill Medical College of Cornell University received a $254,249 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 1, 2026, through April 30, 2028. The research project combines host-directed and pathogen-directed therapeutic approaches to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection by exploiting the bacterium's dependence on cholesterol metabolism. The project involves inhibiting both the MTB enzyme phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTT) and the host macrophage enzyme sterol-O-acyltransferase (SOAT) to generate toxic metabolic intermediates—specifically propionyl-coenzyme A accumulation and coenzyme A depletion—that kill intracellular MTB while simultaneously reducing the macrophage's capacity to sustain bacterial infection through lipid storage.

This research addresses critical gaps in tuberculosis treatment by developing a novel therapeutic strategy intended to reduce treatment duration, circumvent antibiotic resistance, and minimize tissue damage associated with prolonged chemotherapy regimens. The work will be conducted at the institution's New York City location and contributes to NIAID's broader research portfolio supporting basic science investigations into infectious disease mechanisms and translational studies bridging laboratory discoveries to clinical applications.