How ancestry shapes immune responses to infections
Characterizing the genetic and evolutionary determinants of population variation in transcriptional responses to pathogens
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · NIH-11326830
Researchers will compare how genes and immune systems react to infections across people from different ancestral backgrounds to find genetic and evolutionary reasons for those differences.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11326830 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join this project, researchers will collect blood or tissue samples from people of diverse ancestries and measure how genes are turned on during infection and after immune stimulation. They will also look at epigenetic marks that influence gene activity and search for genetic variants linked to different responses. The team will compare groups with different ancestry, including populations with African ancestry, to see which differences likely arose through natural selection versus random changes. Results will be analyzed to trace evolutionary histories and connect genetic differences to how people respond to pathogens.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults from diverse ancestral backgrounds, including people of African descent and other global populations, who can provide blood or tissue samples and basic health and exposure information are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for an active infection should not expect direct medical benefit from participating in this genetics and evolution-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could clarify why some populations have different infection risks or outcomes and eventually inform more tailored prevention, diagnostics, or treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has identified population-specific immune gene differences and signatures of selection, but integrating gene expression, epigenetics, and evolutionary analyses across many global populations at this scale is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BARREIRO, LUIS BRUNO — UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: BARREIRO, LUIS BRUNO
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.
Conditions: Autoimmune Diseases, Communicable Diseases, Disease, Disorder