Infectious Diseases experts William Steinbach, M.D., and Praveen Juvvadi, Ph.D., are establishing a new research program at Arkansas Children’s Research Institute to study a fungus considered to be the leading cause of death in pediatric patients with weakened immune systems.
Dr. Steinbach serves as the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the UAMS College of Medicine and Pediatrician in Chief of Arkansas Children’s. Dr. Juvvadi is also an associate professor in the Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
At the center of the study is aspergillus fumigatus, commonly found in decaying leaf litter and similar settings. It’s a major threat to patients with weakened immune systems, including children with chronic illnesses, and has mortality rate exceeding 40%.
Current understanding of how Aspergillus fumigatus thrives remains incomplete, but researchers Juvvadi and Steinbach have identified key mechanisms they believe drive its rapid growth and reproduction. NIH funding will support their research into how protein phosphatase calcineurin and protein kinase A influence the fungus’s growth, contribute to its spread, and enhance its resistance to antifungal medications.
“The World Health Organization recently named Aspergillus fumigatus as among the most critical fungal threats facing the world. For children with compromised immune systems, this research will embody Arkansas Children’s mission of creating a healthier tomorrow,” Steinbach said. “These findings could promise a future that many of those patients are not guaranteed today.”
Juvvadi and Steinbach aim to uncover new drug targets and develop treatments that specifically attack these mechanisms, potentially making it harder for the fungus to survive. Their NIH funding consists of two grants: a five-year, $2.8 million R01 award and a two-year, $438,000 R21 award. “We are excited about NIH’s support through both awards in the same cycle,” Juvvadi said. “This funding will enable us to gain crucial insights into Aspergillus fumigatus’ survival strategies and bring us closer to developing life-saving therapies for those battling this infection.”