Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. received a $429,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2028. The award supports research investigating the mechanisms of Leptospira kidney colonization, specifically examining the role of bacterial clade characteristics and adhesin-mediated interactions in pathogenic leptospirosis. The research will define the functional differences among Leptospira subspecies clades in their ability to bind specific kidney cell types, including glomerular endothelial cells, podocytes, parietal epithelial cells, and proximal tubule epithelial cells, with the goal of informing the development of targeted antibacterial treatment strategies.

This project addresses a significant public health need, as leptospirosis represents the most widespread zoonotic disease globally with disproportionate impacts on resource-limited populations. The research outputs will advance understanding of pathogenic leptospiral mechanisms and kidney colonization pathways, potentially enabling novel therapeutic interventions for a disease for which no human vaccines are currently approved in the United States and antibiotic treatments are effective only when administered early in infection. The work will be conducted at the awardee's Wauwatosa, Wisconsin location.