Finding similarities between human and mouse immune cells that fight infections

Human and mouse transcriptome profiling identifies cross-species homology of mononuclear phagocytes

NIH-funded research Dartmouth College · NIH-11235833

Researchers compare immune cells from human organs and mice to find shared features that could help improve prevention and treatment of infections.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDartmouth College NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Hanover, United States)
Project IDNIH-11235833 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be told that scientists collect fresh human and mouse tissues from lung, skin, and their nearby lymph nodes to study key immune cells. They use both bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing to read which genes are active in each cell type. The team compares cell types across species to find matching populations and looks at how those cells behave and function. This work combines gene activity maps with lab tests to connect molecular profiles to immune cell roles.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are people who can donate fresh tissue (for example during surgery or biopsy) or provide blood samples at Dartmouth or a partner site.

Not a fit: People who cannot or do not want to provide tissue or blood samples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier to translate findings from mouse models into human treatments and lead to better therapies or vaccines for infections.

How similar studies have performed: Other teams have used bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing to map immune cells and found promising cross-species patterns, but fully matching cell function across organs is still an emerging area.

Where this research is happening

Hanover, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Bacterial Infections
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.