How B cells and T cells interact in celiac disease
Official title: B cell-T cell crosstalk in celiac disease
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11129868 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are exploring how B cells and T cells communicate in people with celiac disease to find new treatments that do not rely only on a gluten-free diet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $427,543 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK128352-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11129868 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diagnosed celiac disease, particularly those with ongoing symptoms or intestinal injury despite following a gluten-free diet, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without celiac disease or those whose condition is fully controlled by a gluten-free diet are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you have celiac disease, this project will look at immune cells in your small intestine and blood to understand how B cells and T cells drive inflammation. Investigators will analyze patient samples such as intestinal biopsies and blood to measure antibody-producing B cells, antigen presentation, and T-cell responses. They will use laboratory models and molecular methods to trace how B cell–T cell interactions lead to intestinal damage and autoantibody production. The goal is to identify biological targets that could lead to non-diet therapies for people who continue to have symptoms despite a gluten-free diet.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify new targets for treatments that reduce symptoms and intestinal damage for people with celiac disease who do not fully respond to a gluten-free diet.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has documented antibodies and immune cell changes in celiac disease, but directly targeting B cell–T cell crosstalk is a relatively new and still unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abadie, Valerie — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Abadie, Valerie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how immune cells interact in celiac disease to guide healing
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Tissue damage and healing in Celiac Disease
A broad study at the University of Chicago is exploring why some people with celiac disease keep having symptoms and tissue damage even when they try to follow a gluten-free diet.
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This project looks at whether using portable gluten sensors and urine gluten tests together with telemedicine can help adults with celiac disease stick to a gluten-free diet and feel better.
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Gluten-sensing tech to help manage celiac disease with telemedicine
A study tests new gluten-detection tools used with online care to help adults with celiac disease manage their condition.
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Role of Transglutaminase 2 in Celiac Disease
A study from Stanford aims to understand how a specific enzyme, TG2, contributes to celiac disease and to test a potential gut-focused treatment that could one day help people avoid dietary controls.
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.