Federal Grant Award Summary

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey received a $416,279 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 February 13, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2028. The research project investigates the mechanisms underlying local and systemic allergic responses to protease allergens, specifically examining why allergen exposure produces varying clinical outcomes ranging from localized reactions to potentially fatal anaphylaxis. The project addresses critical gaps in understanding allergic disease pathogenesis by developing and characterizing animal models of protease allergen-induced allergy, utilizing papain as a model allergen to clarify factors beyond IgE antibody levels and allergen dose that determine the severity and organ specificity of allergic reactions.

The research deliverables include scientific findings on the host mechanisms responsible for systemic and ectopic dissemination of allergic responses, empirical data from animal models demonstrating how local sensitization can trigger systemic anaphylactic responses, and mechanistic characterization of protease allergen-specific immune responses. These research outputs, conducted at Rutgers' Newark, New Jersey location, will contribute to advancing scientific knowledge of allergic disease mechanisms and inform the development of improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for managing food and environmental allergies—a significant public health burden in developed nations.