Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received a $225,846 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded June 12, 2026, with completion scheduled for May 31, 2028. This award supports research and development of antivirulence inhibitor therapeutics targeting bacterial Type IV pili (T4P), a virulence factor present in high-priority gram-negative pathogens. The project directly addresses the urgent public health challenge of antibiotic resistance by pursuing an alternative therapeutic approach that targets pathogenic mechanisms without exerting selective pressure for resistance development.

The research deliverables include two primary objectives: (1) conducting structure-activity relationship studies to optimize potency and selectivity of a novel T4P inhibitor candidate, and (2) executing high-throughput screening using an innovative phenotypic platform to identify new chemical entities that inhibit T4P biogenesis and function. Successful completion will establish a robust discovery and preclinical development pipeline for small-molecule antivirulence therapeutics, contributing to the broader national goal of developing alternative antimicrobial strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. Research will be conducted at Virginia Tech's Blacksburg, Virginia facility.