Allergic disease memory and immune regulation in humans and mice
Official title: Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases, Project 1: Epigenetic Mechanisms of ILC2s in Allergic Diseases
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11354171 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how allergens affect a key immune cell (ILC2) to drive asthma and allergy by examining epigenetic changes and memory formation in both people and mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $615,553 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI198425-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354171 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with allergic diseases or asthma and healthy volunteers may participate, depending on the specific aims and methods for human studies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without allergic disease may participate in control analyses but are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will explore how allergens activate ILC2 cells and create a memory that can trigger airway inflammation upon re-exposure. They will use advanced techniques like ATAC-seq and single-cell RNA sequencing to map chromatin changes and gene activity related to type-2 responses. The work aims to compare responses in atopic (allergy-prone) subjects and healthy individuals to understand why memory leads to disease in some people. Findings could reveal new targets to prevent or lessen allergic reactions and asthma. The study integrates human samples and mouse models to link epigenetic patterns with clinical outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how allergic memories form could lead to new strategies to prevent or treat asthma and allergies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown allergen-induced memory in ILC2s and epigenetic remodeling, supporting potential translational relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alam, Rafeul — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Alam, Rafeul
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.