Mucormycosis: new targets to stop deadly fungal invasion
Official title: Project 1
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11364087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing overview of a funding opportunity aiming to understand and block how Mucorales fungi invade the body in people with weakened immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| 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 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $410,760 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI186818-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with weakened immune systems, such as those with diabetic ketoacidosis, neutropenia, or on corticosteroids, who are at risk for mucormycosis.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without mucormycosis risk factors are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports research into how the fungus that causes mucormycosis invades lung and blood vessel cells, with the goal of finding antibodies and other interventions to stop infection. Researchers study specific fungal proteins and their interactions with human cells to identify targets for therapies or vaccines. The work uses human-relevant models to understand disease pathways and how to prevent tissue damage in people who are seriously ill or immunocompromised.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments or preventive strategies for mucormycosis, potentially saving lives in high-risk patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that targeting fungal invasion proteins can reduce disease in animal models, supporting potential for human benefit.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ibrahim, Ashraf S. — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ibrahim, Ashraf S.
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.