Engineered B cells designed to deliver therapy directly in the gut
Official title: Engineered perturbations to define B cell entry, competition, and function in intestinal immunity and inflammation
Funded at Seattle Children's Hospital · NIH-11430087 · Data updated 2026-11-12
These researchers are testing a way to reprogram gut-homing B cells to deliver therapy right where inflammatory bowel disease occurs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $911,271 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI201425-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11430087 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) who may benefit from localized gut-directed therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients unlikely to benefit include those without IBD or whose disease is not gut-localized, or who cannot undergo potential future experimental procedures.
What this research studies
This project explores making special B cells that stay in the gut and release therapeutic proteins over time to treat inflammatory bowel disease. By engineering B cells to recognize gut bacteria, they aim to keep healing medicines localized in the intestine and reduce systemic side effects. The team plans to study how B cell activation and signaling steer these cells into durable antibody production in the gut lining. Results could lead to a new, targeted approach for managing inflammation with fewer off-target issues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with IBD might experience fewer systemic side effects and more effective control of gut inflammation.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in targeted biologic delivery to the gut has shown promise in animal models, but human translation is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Seattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: James, Richard Goff — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: James, Richard Goff
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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.