Project Grant R21AI193658

Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded a $449,625 Project Grant to the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective June 15, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2028. The research project investigates the regulation of Candida albicans biofilms on central venous catheters (CVCs) through transcription factor networks, with the primary deliverables being scientific research findings on biofilm formation mechanisms under physiological conditions relevant to bloodstream infections.

The funded research utilizes two complementary experimental models to identify key transcriptional regulators: a clinically relevant mouse jugular vein catheter model and a human-relevant ex vivo vascularized catheter system. The project delivers comprehensive screening and validation of approximately 155 barcoded transcription factor mutants, transcriptomic profiling data, identification of critical biofilm growth regulators, characterization of downstream effector genes, and regulatory circuit mapping. These research products aim to elucidate context-specific transcriptional mechanisms governing CVC biofilm formation that cannot be identified through in vitro studies alone, ultimately advancing understanding of microbial infections that account for over 80 percent of clinical infections and contributing to improved prevention and treatment strategies for device-associated infections.