Celiac disease: finding blood and tissue clues to gut inflammation
Official title: PROJECT 2: Circulating Predictors, Biomarkers, and Immune Dysfunction in Celiac Disease (CeD)
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11350111 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Yale will look for immune clues in blood and gut tissue to understand how celiac disease causes damage and how we might monitor it without invasive tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | June 17, 2026 |
| Project end | April 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $388,805 |
| NIH project number | 1P01AI187003-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11350111 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with a confirmed celiac disease diagnosis who are willing to provide gut tissue samples and blood at diagnosis and during follow-up.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have celiac disease or who cannot provide tissue or blood samples may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project scans immune cells and signals in gut tissue and blood of people with celiac disease to identify markers of disease activity. Researchers will examine specific T cells that react to gluten and other immune features using advanced single-cell and barcoding methods, tracking changes from diagnosis over time. The goal is to uncover non-invasive biomarkers that reflect what’s happening in the gut and help guide treatment decisions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from better, less invasive ways to monitor disease activity and response to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using single-cell analyses have shown promise in identifying immune signatures related to gut autoimmune diseases, but this exact combination in celiac disease is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Herold, Kevan C — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Herold, Kevan C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how immune cells interact in celiac disease to guide healing
A study from the University of Chicago will follow people with celiac disease to understand how immune cells in the gut contribute to damage or healing when gluten is present or restricted.
-
NanoDiscs: a new way to calm the immune system in celiac disease
A new, protein-like particle called NanoDiscs is being developed to deliver safe targets to the immune system in people with celiac disease, with the goal of reducing reactions to gluten.
-
Tissue damage and healing in Celiac Disease
A broad study at the University of Chicago is exploring why some people with celiac disease keep having symptoms and tissue damage even when they try to follow a gluten-free diet.
-
Gluten-detection devices and telemedicine to help adults with celiac disease
This project looks at whether using portable gluten sensors and urine gluten tests together with telemedicine can help adults with celiac disease stick to a gluten-free diet and feel better.
-
Gluten-sensing tech to help manage celiac disease with telemedicine
A study tests new gluten-detection tools used with online care to help adults with celiac disease manage their condition.
-
Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Celiac Disease
A study from Stanford aims to understand how a specific enzyme, TG2, contributes to celiac disease and to test a potential gut-focused treatment that could one day help people avoid dietary controls.
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.