NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

A new method to profile immune responses to pathogens in head and neck conditions

Official title: Multiplex In-Solution Protein Array (MISPA) for high throughput, quantitative, early profiling of pathogen-induced head and neck

Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-10914979 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new way to look at how people's immune systems respond to infections like COVID-19 by analyzing over 1,000 patient samples at once, which could help doctors better understand and treat related health issues.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionArizona State University-Tempe Campus
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tempe, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endAugust 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$361,844
NIH project number5R33CA281802-02
Project IDNIH-10914979 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include patients with head and neck conditions who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory pathogens.

Less likely to help

Patients who do not have head and neck conditions or have not been exposed to the pathogens being studied may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a novel protein array technology called Multiplex In-Solution Protein Array (MISPA) to enhance the profiling of immune responses to various pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. By utilizing a liquid-phase approach, this method allows for high-throughput screening of antibody responses in patient samples, which can lead to better understanding of disease mechanisms and patient variability. The study aims to analyze immune responses in over 1000 samples simultaneously, providing a comprehensive view of how different patients react to infections. This could significantly improve diagnostic capabilities and treatment strategies for head and neck conditions associated with these pathogens.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and timely diagnoses of infections, improving patient outcomes in head and neck diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research using multiplexed assays has shown promise in profiling immune responses, indicating that this approach could be effective in clinical settings.

Where this research is happening

  • Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
    Tempe, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Labaer, Joshua — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
  • Study coordinator: Labaer, Joshua

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.