Understanding how the body fights Mucormycosis by targeting fungal metabolism
Official title: Project 2
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11364093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project is exploring how immune cells and fat-related molecules work together to stop a dangerous fungal infection called Mucormycosis, with the goal of finding new ways to help patients.
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) | $554,594 |
| NIH project number | 5P01AI186818-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11364093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients at risk for or affected by Mucormycosis, particularly those with immune or metabolic abnormalities.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without risk factors or exposure to Mucorales may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This grant supports a multi-year program to uncover how host immune cells and lipid signals interact with Mucorales fungi during infection. The team studies alveolar macrophages and neutrophils and how albumin-bound fatty acids and lipid mediators influence the fungus’s metabolism and virulence factors. By identifying key regulators of the host-fungal metabolic dialogue, the project aims to reveal targets for novel therapies that enhance patient defense against Mucorales. The work combines laboratory experiments with analyses that could point to future interventions for people at risk of this serious infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new treatment strategies that boost the body's natural defenses against Mucormycosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have begun to map host-fungal interactions and metabolism, with promising hints that lipid pathways influence fungal growth and immunity.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chamilos, Georgios — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chamilos, Georgios
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.