Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Michigan received a $426,539 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), with performance extending from May 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031. This award supports research to develop comprehensive cellular network models in bacterial pathogens, specifically focusing on Streptococci species and their mechanisms of intercellular communication and metabolic adaptation. The Jensen Lab will advance its artificial intelligence-driven robotic scientist platform to integrate metabolism and quorum sensing analysis, combining genetic perturbation experiments with automated fluorescence microscopy to create a systems-level understanding of how environmental and genetic factors influence pathogenic bacterial behavior and colonization of human hosts.

The research builds on the laboratory's prior discoveries regarding unique nutrient preferences among Streptococci species and their complex quorum sensing pathways. The project deliverables include conducting thousands of automated experiments to map phenotypic landscapes, identifying novel communication mechanisms between bacterial species, and establishing quantitative frameworks explaining how context-specific factors rewire individual metabolic and signaling pathways. This fundamental research in bacterial pathogenesis supports NIGMS's mission to advance understanding of biological processes and establish foundations for improvements in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.