Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute, Inc. received a $193,750 Project Grant award dated July 7, 2026, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The award funds exploratory research into the mechanisms by which cell-surface glycoRNAs—hybrid biomolecules composed of small noncoding RNAs modified with complex glycans—facilitate respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection of human airway epithelium. The research will define the specific RNA sequences and secondary structures of glycoRNAs that scaffold nucleolin, a critical RSV entry receptor, and validate their essential role in conferring viral susceptibility in cultured airway epithelial models.

The project deliverables include characterization of glycoRNA sequences and structures necessary for nucleolin binding and RSV entry through in vitro analysis of human airway epithelium cultured at an air-liquid interface, and in vivo validation of glycoRNA function using an RNA exonuclease gene knockout mouse model. By establishing glycoRNAs as novel viral receptor scaffolds and identifying an RNA-based mechanism of viral entry, this research will generate new therapeutic targets for RSV infection—a significant public health concern in infants and older adults. The project is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2028.