Mouse model of neonatal Candida colonization and mucosal immunity
Official title: Mouse model of neonatal fungal colonization to study homeostasis and disease
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11372284 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how Candida albicans living in newborns’ mouths shapes early immune responses and mucosal health using a new baby-mouse model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | July 14, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $204,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI187999-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372284 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns and infants (or data derived from neonatal biology) and their caregivers in translational follow-up studies relevant to oral mucosal immunity.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy adults not exposed to neonatal colonization dynamics are unlikely to directly benefit from this neonatal-focused work.
What this research studies
This project uses a novel mouse model to explore how early-life Candida colonization influences oral mucosal immunity. By examining immune cell populations in the mouth of neonatal mice, the study aims to uncover how commensal fungi shape training of innate and adaptive responses. The findings could reveal key windows of immune development and inform strategies to maintain mucosal health in newborns. The work builds on prior evidence of trained immunity and seeks to translate these concepts to neonatal biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how early fungal colonization influences immune development could lead to new approaches for promoting oral mucosal health in newborns.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in adults show that oral Candida can shape immune responses, but neonatal-specific mechanisms are still being established, making this a novel extension.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Swidergall, Marc — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Swidergall, Marc
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.