Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Washington University a Project Grant totaling $272,125 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective July 13, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of June 30, 2028. This research project investigates the essential transcription factors of Cryptococcus neoformans, a global fungal pathogen responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually, particularly in HIV-positive individuals. The primary deliverables include identifying the direct target genes that essential transcription factors bind and regulate, and integrating this information to elucidate their functions and biological roles in cryptococcal pathogenesis. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding a neglected class of twelve transcription factors that previous systematic deletion efforts failed to characterize, eleven of which lack orthologs in model yeast organisms.

The project will advance fundamental knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory network governing cryptococcal virulence and pathogenesis through cutting-edge molecular and genomic analysis. By determining direct versus indirect regulatory relationships and functional targets of essential transcription factors, the research will establish the foundation for future mechanistic investigations and potential therapeutic interventions against this significant infectious disease threat. The work is performed at Washington University's Office of Sponsored Research Services in University City, Missouri, and contributes to NIAID's broader mission of supporting biomedical research on infectious diseases.