Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Connecticut Health Center received a $423,352 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective March 18, 2026, through February 28, 2031. This award supports fundamental biomedical research investigating dead cell-phagocyte interactions at the phagosomal interface to advance understanding of cellular death processes and immune responses. The research employs an innovative proximity-labeling technique called PhagoPL to profile protein compositions within phagosomes—the vesicles formed when immune cells internalize dead cells—enabling researchers to decode how cells recognize and process different types of cell death signals including apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis.

The project directly contributes to NIGMS's mission of supporting basic research that enhances understanding of biological processes and establishes foundations for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. By systematically exploring the molecular mechanisms governing efferocytosis (the cellular clearance of dead cells) and the subsequent immune signaling pathways, this research holds potential applications for developing more effective therapeutic strategies against diseases including cancer and for preventing harmful immune complications such as autoimmune and fibrotic diseases. The five-year project period supports investigation of how phagosomal composition adapts to different cellular cargo and death modalities, directly expanding fundamental knowledge of cell recognition mechanisms.