Federal Grant Award Summary

Cornell University received a $219,852 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 28, 2028. This exploratory research initiative investigates the bacterial endosymbiont accommodation (BEA) program in early-divergent mucoromycete fungi, with the objective of elucidating the developmental and regulatory mechanisms that govern the establishment and maintenance of associations between mucoromycete fungi and endosymbiotic bacteria. Research findings are expected to provide foundational insights applicable to understanding fungal virulence factors and informing novel therapeutic strategies for treating mucormycosis, an increasingly prevalent and often fatal infection in immunocompromised populations.

The research activities leverage Cornell's previous findings on pattern recognition receptors and symbiosis regulators involved in fungal-bacterial interactions, extending this work through investigation of microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and innate immune response modulation. The project operates under the hypothesis that fungi possess an ancient BEA program comparable to those found in plants and animals, the elucidation of which may support development of targeted therapies aimed at eradicating mucoromycete infections that currently represent a substantial clinical burden. Research will be conducted at Cornell University's facility in Ithaca, New York, under the administration of the university's Office of Sponsored Programs.