Project Grant R21AI202294

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded the University of North Carolina at Charlotte $258,361 on August 1, 2026, under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) to investigate innate immune stimulation through RIG-I activation for antibacterial responses against Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.

The project focuses on understanding how bone cells respond to S. aureus infection through pattern recognition receptors, particularly the cytosolic nucleic acid sensor retinoic acid inducible gene-1 (RIG-I). The research builds on prior findings demonstrating that infected bone cells upregulate RIG-I in response to S. aureus and produce protective type I interferon responses. The exploratory R21 project will investigate whether RIG-I activation can enhance innate immune responses and limit intracellular bacterial burden in the context of bone infection, potentially identifying novel therapeutic interventions for osteomyelitis—a severe bone infection with high recurrence rates (40% of patients) complicated by antibiotic-resistant strains including MRSA and intracellular bacterial refuge in resident bone cells.

The award runs through July 31, 2028, with place of performance in Charlotte, North Carolina. The University of North Carolina System Office is the parent institution.