Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Baylor College of Medicine received a $240,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The award supports research aimed at understanding rotavirus pathogenesis mechanisms and vaccine development. Specifically, the funded research defines the structural and functional characteristics of particle-associated rotavirus nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4), a critical viral protein required for triple-layered particle assembly and infectivity. The project characterizes NSP4 domains that interact with viral spike proteins and cellular integrins, providing foundational knowledge to advance rotavirus vaccine efficacy and combat a pathogen responsible for over 200,000 annual deaths globally, particularly in low-income countries.

The research deliverables include molecular characterization studies, immunological analysis, and structural-functional analysis of NSP4's role in viral assembly and host cell receptor interactions. These investigations generate scientific knowledge and methodological advances intended to improve vaccine design strategies against rotavirus infections, directly supporting the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program's objective of establishing and expanding biomedical research addressing infectious diseases and related health challenges.