Federal Grant Award Summary

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) received a $234,000 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 June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028. The research initiative investigates how bioactive components in human milk amplify interferon-lambda (IFN-L) responses in neonatal intestinal epithelial cells to protect infants from enteric viral infections and maintain intestinal homeostasis. The project deliverables include identification and characterization of milk's IFN-amplifying biochemical fractions, elucidation of signaling pathways required for interferon enhancement, and validation of milk's role in driving homeostatic IFN-L responses in mouse models.

This exploratory proposal employs human neonatal intestinal organoid models and murine research systems to test the central hypothesis that raw human milk contains bioactive components capable of enhancing interferon-mediated immune defenses. The two primary research aims focus on defining the mechanistic pathways through which raw milk amplifies IFN-L responses and determining milk's role in establishing homeostatic interferon responses in vivo, with anticipated outcomes contributing to understanding of neonatal gastrointestinal immunity and potential dietary interventions for infectious disease prevention.