Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Utah's Office of Sponsored Projects received a $423,500 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. This award funds investigator-initiated biomedical research examining the role of cholesterol metabolism in regulatory T cell (Treg) function and autoimmune disease. The research will produce scientific knowledge and experimental findings addressing two primary objectives: evaluating the specific role of SPRING1, a regulator of cholesterol metabolism, in Treg function; and assessing the impact of exogenous cholesterol uptake on Treg suppressive function in autoimmune and inflammatory disease models.

The grant supports basic and translational research with implications for understanding and potentially manipulating immune regulation in autoimmune diseases, cancer, metabolic disease, and cardiovascular conditions. Research deliverables will include experimental data, publications, and methodological advances that establish whether Treg-specific regulation of cholesterol metabolism can be therapeutically manipulated to improve immune function. The project is conducted at the University of Utah's Salt Lake City campus and contributes to NIAID's broader mission of advancing scientific knowledge of infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases through competitive peer-reviewed research.