Project Grant R21AI194706

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Trudeau Institute Inc. a Project Grant totaling $332,414 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) effective February 9, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2028. The research project, "Probing the Novel Mechanism of Action of Tuberculocidal Compounds," focuses on validating and characterizing a novel anti-tuberculosis drug candidate designated TI-507. This compound, originally developed as a human sphingosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrates activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and demonstrates the ability to kill persister cells and sterilize cultures within four weeks—addressing critical gaps in tuberculosis treatment where current therapies are lengthy, complex, and increasingly challenged by drug-resistant strains.

The project delivers investigative services in two primary areas: target validation of NAD kinase (PPNK) as the mechanism of action for TI-507, and comprehensive characterization of the biological consequences of PPNK inhibition across environmental stress conditions, intracellular infection models, and murine infection models. This research supports the development of chemically distinct therapeutics with novel mechanisms of action to overcome emerging antibiotic resistance, representing a drug repurposing strategy that aims to reduce development costs, timelines, and safety risks associated with conventional antibiotic discovery. Research activities are conducted at Trudeau Institute's facility in New York.