# The role of the ECRG4 in Host Defense of Staph Aureus Infection

> **NIH NIH K08** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $157,290

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT:
This K08 application is designed to provide Dr. Robert Dorschner, MD, the scientific training and professional
development required to become an independent investigator in the field of cutaneous host defense. The
advent of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has significantly increased the morbidity of skin
and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). There is a great need for innovation to better understand host defense of the
skin and to develop alternative therapies. Neutrophils are a key component of cutaneous host-defense, yet
neutrophil-targeted therapies are lacking. The long-term goal of this proposal is to train the PI through a project
that will advance an understanding of innate mechanisms that regulate neutrophil recruitment and activation in
cutaneous inflammation and infection. His preliminary data demonstrate that the leukocyte surface protein
ECRG4 promotes early neutrophil recruitment to cutaneous injury and regulates CD44 expression. The central
hypothesis is that ECRG4 enhances the inflammatory response to contain and eliminate cutaneous infection
through its ability to amplify neutrophil recruitment and regulate CD44 signaling. The rationale for this project is
that a determination of novel neutrophil recruitment mechanisms will enable therapeutic targeting of molecules
like ECRG4 for neutrophil-directed therapies to enhance host defense against antibiotic resistant microbes. Dr.
Dorschner will apply molecular and cell biology techniques to ECRG4 KO mice and human leukocytes to: 1)
Determine the role of ECRG4 in host defense against cutaneous staph aureus infection, 2) Assess its
regulation of neutrophils with in vivo and ex vivo models, and 3) Define the effect of ECRG4 regulated CD44
expression on neutrophil recruitment and function. These findings will demonstrate a novel mechanism
controlling early inflammatory responses to infection that can be translated to the development of anti-infective
therapies. To achieve this, Dr. Dorschner has assembled an interdepartmental mentoring team with experience
launching junior investigators into independent research careers. His primary mentors from the Department of
Surgery are Dr. Brian Eliceiri, PhD, an expert in immune cell trafficking and inflammation, and Dr. Andrew
Baird, PhD, an expert in wound healing. Additional clinician-scientist mentors from the Department of
Dermatology provide further expertise in cutaneous immunity and inflammation research and clinician-scientist
career development. This training plan implements 1) acquisition of scientific and technical expertise in
neutrophil biology and signaling using mouse and human models 2) training in grant writing, clinical research
and biostatistics 3) generation of data for a successful R01 submission, and a 4) planned transition to
independence through ongoing professional development. This work takes place within the outstanding
scientific environment at UCSD in the Departments of Surgery ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10040337
- **Project number:** 1K08AR077734-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert A Dorschner
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $157,290
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10040337

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10040337, The role of the ECRG4 in Host Defense of Staph Aureus Infection (1K08AR077734-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10040337. Licensed CC0.

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