Systematic study of a leading human fungal pathogen and its virulence
Official title: Systematic Analysis of Morphogenesis, Commensalism, and Virulence in a Leading Human Fungal Pathogen
Funded at University of Toronto · NIH-11394345 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how Candida albicans causes disease and how it responds to drugs, with the goal of finding new ways to treat dangerous infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Toronto NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Toronto, Canada) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $607,856 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI127375-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394345 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with invasive Candida infections or those at high risk for such infections.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals are not expected to directly benefit from this basic research.
What this research studies
This project uses advanced genetics in the fungus Candida albicans to map which genes control its ability to cause disease and resist drugs. Researchers will expand a genome-wide resource of fungal strains and apply high-throughput analyses to link specific genes to virulence traits. The work will help identify new targets for antifungal therapies that are effective against drug-resistant infections. Patients with severe fungal infections could benefit later from therapies inspired by these discoveries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to new antifungal targets and treatments for invasive Candida infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that genome-wide fungal genetics can reveal virulence factors and potential drug targets.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Toronto
Toronto, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cowen, Leah Elizabeth — University of Toronto
- Study coordinator: Cowen, Leah Elizabeth
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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.