Sunday, September 14, 2025 9/14/2025

Targeting innate immune pathways, and inflammatory cell death in cytokine-mediated diseases

Award Number: R01AI160179
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Targeting innate immune pathways, and inflammatory cell death in cytokine-mediated diseases - ABSTRACT The innate immune system is the critical first line of defense against pathogenic infections. In the context of viral infections, activation of the innate immune response is key to controlling viral replication and eliminating the infection. However, overactivation of this response can lead to systemic hyperinflammation and significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has emerged, leading to the disease COVID-19 and a global pandemic. Targeted therapeutic strategies are critically lacking, and there is limited understanding of the role of innate immune responses in this disease. Clinical data show that patients with COVID-19 experience a cytokine storm and significant tissue damage, both of which contribute to disease severity and mortality. Recent work from our group showed that increased TNF-α and IFN-γ levels following SARS-CoV-2 infection lead to inflammatory cell death, which is detrimental to the host. We found that neutralizing TNF-α and IFN-γ reduced SARS-CoV-2–induced mortality in mice. But little is known about the mechanistic basis behind the uncontrolled cytokine release. While several potential therapies to block different inflammatory cytokines are being explored, balancing proinflammatory responses to clear the virus with preventing systemic inflammation remains challenging. Improved understanding of the mechanisms by which the innate immune system recognizes and responds to coronavirus infections will be key to informing and developing therapeutic strategies. Furthermore, the roles of specific innate immune sensors, inflammasome activation, and inflammatory cell death in COVID-19 disease development remain unknown. We have previously elucidated the molecular details of innate immune signaling pathways that regulate inflammation and pathogenic clearance, identifying upstream sensors and important molecules in these pathways. In this grant application, we seek to unravel the fundamental mechanisms of novel innate immune sensors and inflammasome regulators discovered in our lab previously and understand their crosstalk with cell death regulators in coronavirus infection. Basic science supporting this area of research is critical to understanding the fundamentals of the innate immune response. The work completed under this proposal will characterize the major innate immune sensors that are directly sensing SARS-CoV-2 to initiate interferon and inflammatory cytokine expression and identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate inflammatory cell death in response to SARS-CoV-2. These discoveries are expected to identify novel signaling pathways that could be targeted by therapeutic interventions. The findings will be applicable to not only COVID-19, but also other infectious diseases and conditions associated with a hyperactive innate immune response, cytokine release, and severe inflammation; this work will be fundamental to inform clinical directions to prevent morbidity and mortality.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $763,801 )
2025	2025	ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	6/2/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$763,801
														Subtotal = $763,801

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $763,801 )
2024	2024	ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	5/31/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$763,801
														Subtotal = $763,801

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $763,801 )
2023	2023	ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, INC.	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	5/12/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$763,801
														Subtotal = $763,801

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $1,157,238 )
2022	2022	ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, INC.	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	5/16/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$763,801
2022	2022	ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, INC.	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	2	8/19/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$393,437
														Subtotal = $1,157,238

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $763,801 )
2021	2021	ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL, INC.	262 DANNY THOMAS PL	MEMPHIS	TN	38105	SHELBY	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	6/14/2021	NEW	$763,801
														Subtotal = $763,801

Grand Total All Awards = $4,212,442

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Targeting innate immune pathways, and inflammatory cell death in cytokine-mediated diseases

Award Number: R01AI160179

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer