Project Grant R21AI198413

Federal Grant Award Summary

Albany Medical College received a $246,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) for the period May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. The grant supports investigator-initiated biomedical research aimed at deciphering the role of human Fc gamma receptor I (hFcγRI) in cross-presentation and optimizing CD8 T-cell immune responses in the respiratory mucosa. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how targeting protein antigens to hFcγRI promotes cross-presentation—the process by which antigen-presenting cells activate CD8 T-cell-mediated immunity—with implications for advancing immunotherapies and vaccines against cancer and cytosolic pathogens.

The primary deliverables from this award include scientific research findings and methodological advances generated through experimental investigations using an antibody raised against hFcγRI (A-hFcγRI) and transgenic mice expressing hFcγRI on professional antigen-presenting cells. This approach enables selective targeting of hFcγRI without engaging other Fc receptors, thereby isolating the specific role of this activating receptor in cross-presentation compared to broader immune complex approaches. The research will contribute to the scientific knowledge base supporting the development of enhanced vaccine technologies and immunotherapeutic strategies that leverage CD8 T-cell-mediated immunity rather than relying solely on antibody-based responses.