Finding modified proteins that affect immune responses
Official title: Identification of post-translationally modified antigens using genetic code expansion
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11115079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes to proteins can affect the immune system's ability to recognize them, which could help us understand diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes better, and ultimately lead to more effective treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | April 2, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $183,701 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI190660-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 1 diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-autoimmune conditions or those not affected by the diseases being studied may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how chemical modifications of proteins, known as post-translational modifications (PTMs), influence the immune system's ability to recognize these proteins. By using a novel approach called SABRs, the team aims to identify thousands of protein fragments that may trigger immune responses in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. The study will utilize advanced genetic techniques to expand the genetic code, allowing for the exploration of these modifications in a high-throughput manner. Patients may benefit from insights into how their immune systems react to these modified proteins, potentially leading to better-targeted therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has successfully identified immunogenic epitopes using similar approaches, indicating a promising avenue for further exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joglekar, Alok — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Joglekar, Alok
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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.