Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

Duke University's Office of Research Administration received a $242,250 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), with an award date of June 5, 2026, and completion date of May 31, 2028. The grant supports an investigator-initiated research project conducted in Durham, North Carolina, focused on characterizing a novel mycovirus (CNTV1) identified in Cryptococcus neoformans, a critical fungal pathogen designated by the World Health Organization as a priority due to its high mortality rates and treatment challenges.

The research deliverables include comprehensive molecular and functional characterization of CNTV1 infection mechanisms, involving advanced analytical techniques such as long-read RNA sequencing, transmission electron microscopy, cryogenic electron microscopy, immunofluorescence imaging, CRISPR genome editing, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The project will also identify and characterize fungal regulatory factors controlling the virus, including RNA interference-dependent and -independent pathways, thereby generating scientific knowledge to improve understanding of mycovirus impacts on fungal pathogenesis and virulence. These research outputs are intended to advance foundational knowledge of infectious disease mechanisms and contribute to improved public health outcomes related to cryptococcal infection treatment and management.