Helping the body's immune system find balance
Development of Immune Tolerance
This research explores how special immune cells called Tregs help prevent autoimmune diseases and manage the body's response to infections like the flu.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11044041 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have special immune cells called Tregs that are crucial for keeping our immune system in check, preventing it from attacking healthy tissues and controlling inflammation during infections. This project aims to understand a specific type of Treg cell that seems to play a key role in both autoimmune diseases, like lupus, and severe responses to viral infections, such as certain flu strains and coronaviruses. We want to discover how these important cells develop and what their exact jobs are in managing the immune system. By learning more about these cells, we hope to find new ways to treat conditions where the immune system is out of balance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals living with autoimmune diseases or those who experience severe immune reactions to viral infections.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to immune system dysregulation or specific viral responses may not directly benefit from this particular line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and better ways to manage severe immune responses to viral infections.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds on preliminary data identifying a unique subset of Tregs, suggesting a novel approach to understanding immune tolerance.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Farrar, Michael Archibald — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Farrar, Michael Archibald
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 below.