Thursday, March 26, 2026 3/26/2026

CRISPR detection of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) DNA for rapid diagnosis and monitoring of MAC pulmonary disease

Award Number: R01AI177986
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: 03/19/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2029

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CRISPR detection of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) DNA for rapid diagnosis and monitoring of MAC pulmonary disease - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic environmental pathogens that are present in soil and water. NTMpulmonary infections, most commonly due to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), may result in chronic, debilitating pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). Treatment, when necessary, consists of 3-4 antibiotics for 14+ months. MAC-PD disproportionately impacts the elderly and women, and those with underlying lung diseases. The prevalence of MAC-PD is increasing, a trend that will likely continue due to aging populations and increased comorbidities. Our lack of disease biomarkers poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. In contrast with its well-studied cousin tuberculosis (TB), with NTM it is difficult to discern colonization vs. disease caused by these organisms and determine when treatment is necessary or successful. For many patients it is difficult to obtain sufficient respiratory sputum samples to culture for diagnosis or to monitor for microbiologic response during therapy. There is a critical need for non-invasive biomarkers to monitor disease activity and treatment response, in order to limit sputum induction or bronchoscopy procedures and exposure to computed tomography scan radiation. Furthermore, treatment is frequently initiated to improve the patient's symptoms but there is scant data on the correlation of measures of patient-reported outcomes with biomarkers of MAC-PD. The Hu lab has developed an ultra-sensitive CRISPR diagnostic assay using a portable CRISPR-based test to rapidly detect TB cell-free DNA (cfDNA) directly from blood samples. The test allows early TB diagnosis and precisely quantifies TB cfDNA for rapid assessment of disease severity or anti-mycobacterial treatment efficacy. We have preliminary data to suggest this approach can be applied to MAC-PD; accordingly, we seek to evaluate a cfDNA CRISPR-based diagnostic assay (CRISPR-NTM) to diagnose MAC-PD and measure treatment response. We will conduct Aims 1 and 2, analytical and clinical validation of the CRISPR-NTM in patients with MAC-PD during Years 1-2. Aim 2 will use established NTM Biobanks associated with our NTM Clinical Trial Network (OHSU Coordinating Center) to identify a retrospective cohort of patients with MAC-PD and uninfected controls with and without chronic underlying lung disease. During Years 1-4, for Aim 3, we will further utilize our NTM Clinical Trial Network to prospectively collect longitudinal blood samples from patients starting treatment for MAC-PD (NTM-TREAT) from our 1) ongoing pragmatic clinical trial (MAC2v3) and 2) non-MAC2v3 clinic patients representing a broader “real-world” patient population. We will also enroll a pilot cohort at treatment completion (NTM-TRACK), who are subsequently monitored for microbiologic relapse/re-infection. During Years 3-5 we will complete Aim 3 to evaluate the potential for CRISPR-NTM to monitor microbiologic treatment response and relapse/re-infection. Ultimately, the identification of a biomarker for pulmonary MAC-PD and other clinically relevant NTM species will optimize diagnosis and monitoring, and facilitate therapeutic decision-making.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $738,400 )
2026	2026	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	3	1/30/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$738,400
2026	2025	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	1/26/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $738,400

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $742,807 )
2025	2025	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	12/30/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$742,807
														Subtotal = $742,807

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $866,858 )
2024	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	1	9/3/2024	NEW	$76,999
2024	2024	OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY	3181 SW SAM JACKSON PARK RD	PORTLAND	OR	97239	MULTNOMAH	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	3/19/2024	NEW	$789,859
														Subtotal = $866,858

Grand Total All Awards = $2,348,065

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CRISPR detection of circulating cell-free Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) DNA for rapid diagnosis and monitoring of MAC pulmonary disease

Award Number: R01AI177986

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: 03/19/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2029

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