B cells at the brain's borders: how they form and act in autoimmune brain diseases
Official title: Ontogenetic niche of B cells at the CNS borders in homeostasis, aging and autoimmunity
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11582641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how immune B cells behave at the brain's outer layers in aging and autoimmune brain diseases to understand why some people develop conditions like MS and NP-SLE.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $536,327 |
| NIH project number | 7R01AI158579-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11582641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with autoimmune neurological conditions like MS or NP-SLE, or those at risk of CNS autoimmunity, may benefit from future therapies arising from this work.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals or patients without CNS autoimmune involvement may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at where CNS-border B cells come from and how they move into the brain during inflammation, aging, and autoimmunity. It highlights a recent finding that many meningeal B cells originate from calvarial bone marrow and that aging shifts B cell locations and roles. By mapping these cells’ development and movement, the study aims to identify targets to prevent autoreactive antibody production. The work involves analyzing human samples and relevant animal models to connect cellular biology with potential therapeutic strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Advances could lead to new ways to prevent brain-immune interactions that drive autoimmune neurological diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown that targeting B cells can modify disease course in CNS autoimmunity, supporting potential translational impact of these findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Colonna, Marco — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Colonna, Marco
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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.