Environmental triggers shaping early immune cells and asthma risk in children
Official title: Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases, Project 2: Environmental reprogramming of innate lymphocyte development at the origins of asthma
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11354172 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in a mouse model explores how a mother’s exposure to air pollutants like diesel exhaust may program the child’s immune system to be more prone to asthma.
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) | $610,122 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI198425-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354172 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children at risk for allergic diseases or asthma due to environmental exposures or a family history, and researchers may compare future translational approaches.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without exposure-related asthma risk or without a family history may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use a mouse model to understand how maternal exposure to diesel exhaust particles influences the offspring’s immune development, focusing on natural killer (NK) cells and a shift toward Type 2 immunity. The study examines changes in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region, where early blood-forming cells emerge, and how these changes relate to asthma susceptibility. Findings could reveal how early-life environmental exposures shape lifelong risk for allergic disease and asthma. This work bridges developmental biology with immune programming to identify potential targets for preventing asthma starting before birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify early-life cues that increase asthma risk and point to preventive strategies that reduce exposure-related immune programming.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that early-life exposures can program immune cells and influence asthma risk, with evolving understanding of NK cell roles in allergy.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gorska, Magdalena Maria — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Gorska, Magdalena Maria
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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.