How calcineurin controls Aspergillus fumigatus’ antifungal defense
Official title: Calcineurin Control over Aspergillus Fumigatus Antifungal Response Mechanisms
Funded at Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst · NIH-11334342 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a fungal cell’s internal signaling pathway controls its defense against antifungal drugs so we can fight invasive Aspergillus infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $530,524 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179593-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11334342 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with invasive aspergillosis or those at high risk of azole-resistant infections may benefit from future therapeutics derived from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without Aspergillus fumigatus infection or antifungal resistance are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute will map how calcineurin, a key fungal enzyme, governs the genes and proteins that help Aspergillus fumigatus resist azole antifungals. They will integrate genetic, proteomic, and lipidomic data to understand how calcineurin controls cell wall and membrane components that affect drug responses. The goal is to identify precise targets to weaken the fungus’s defenses and improve treatment options for patients with invasive aspergillosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to boost antifungal therapies and reduce mortality from invasive aspergillosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown calcineurin and its factors influence fungal drug responses, and this project builds on those findings with deeper molecular mapping.
Where this research is happening
-
Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Juvvadi, Praveen Rao — Arkansas Children's Hospital Res Inst
- Study coordinator: Juvvadi, Praveen Rao
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.