Engineered gut-targeted regulatory T cells for inflammatory bowel disease
Official title: An allogeneic and gut specific Engineered T regulatory cell therapy for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funded at Gentibio, INC. · NIH-11394173 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new allogeneic, gut-focused cell therapy using engineered regulatory T cells to help people with inflammatory bowel disease feel better and stay in remission.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Gentibio, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,061,227 |
| NIH project number | 1R44DK148134-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394173 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who have inadequate response to current therapies and may be eligible for novel cell-based treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions outside IBD or those who cannot undergo cell-based therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops an off-the-shelf Treg therapy (GNTI-932) designed to home to the gut and modulate inflammation in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It uses FOXP3 to stabilize Treg identity, a controllable IL-2 signaling system, and immune-evasion features to persist after transplant. A gut-localizing targeting mechanism aims to activate the cells specifically in inflamed intestinal tissue, potentially reducing flares and promoting durable benefit. The work encompasses cell engineering, preclinical validation, and plan for translation toward human use, with a focus on safety, persistence, and targeted activity in the gut.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could provide durable symptom control and reduce disease flares for people with inflammatory bowel disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with regulatory T cell therapies shows potential for reducing intestinal inflammation and establishing durable remission signals in early research.
Where this research is happening
-
Gentibio, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sassone-Corsi, Martina — Gentibio, INC.
- Study coordinator: Sassone-Corsi, Martina
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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.