Federal Grant Award Summary

Wayne State University received a $455,719 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective April 3, 2026, with a completion date of March 31, 2028. The research initiative, conducted in Detroit, Michigan, focuses on investigating the mechanisms underlying phage-antibiotic synergy and resistance in daptomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium), a multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality. The project addresses a critical gap in therapeutic knowledge by examining how bacteriophages can be optimally combined with conventional antibiotics to enhance treatment efficacy against MDR infections refractory to standard antibiotic regimens.

The primary deliverables include scientific research establishing mechanisms for phage-antibiotic combination (PAC) synergy against MDR E. faecium strains, particularly those harboring mutations in the LiaFSR regulatory pathway that confer daptomycin resistance. The project aims to optimize PAC therapy regimens by determining optimal frequency of administration, duration of therapy, and synergy mechanisms to maximize bactericidal killing while preventing treatment-emergent resistance. These research outputs are intended to advance therapeutic approaches for deep-seated MDR infections such as infective endocarditis and contribute to the broader understanding of phage-based therapeutics as adjunctive treatments for antibiotic-refractory infections.