How changes in immune cells affect asthma development
Official title: Metabolic perturbations in conventional dendritic cells modulate Tfh13 induction in asthmatic sensitization
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-10984961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how changes in certain immune cells can affect the way your body responds to allergens, which might help us find new treatments for allergic asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | December 25, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $540,579 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL162991-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10984961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with allergic asthma or those who are at risk of developing asthma due to environmental allergens.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-allergic asthma or those whose asthma is not influenced by environmental allergens may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how metabolic changes in dendritic cells, a type of immune cell, influence the development of T follicular helper 13 cells, which are crucial for producing IgE antibodies that trigger allergic asthma. By examining the effects of allergens on dendritic cells, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to asthma sensitization. The researchers will analyze how these immune cells metabolize nutrients like glutamine in response to allergens and how this affects their ability to induce Tfh13 cells. Ultimately, the goal is to translate these findings into potential new treatments for allergic asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to innovative therapies that better manage or prevent allergic asthma.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that targeting metabolic pathways in immune cells can lead to significant advancements in understanding and treating allergic conditions, suggesting that this approach may yield promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, Rebecca Kelley — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Martin, Rebecca Kelley
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Healthy Communities for Youth: Preventing Youth Violence in Richmond and Beyond
A community-centered program to reduce youth violence in Richmond, VA and similar communities by pairing youth voices, hospital-based support, and capacity-building for local groups.
-
S1P-S1PR1: How brain cells talk to each other during development
A study at Virginia Commonwealth University will look at how brain support cells called astrocytes communicate with neurons to shape brain circuits in development.
-
Leader cell mechanics drive collective tumor invasion in breast cancer
A small grant is funding research to understand how leader cancer cells at the edge of a tumor sense their environment and drive groups of cancer cells to invade, which could reveal new ways to stop metastasis in breast cancer.
-
How itch-sensing nerves affect skin defense against parasites
Scientists want to see if itching nerves in the skin influence how the body fights skin-hugging parasites like Schistosoma mansoni.
-
VA-ACCERT Center: Transforming Cancer Control in Virginia's public housing communities
A team at Virginia universities partners with public housing programs to spread proven ways to prevent cancer and improve cancer health in low-income communities.
-
PROMINENT cancer research: understanding how mutations in normal tissue relate to cancer growth
A cancer research project at a major university is exploring how DNA mutations in normal cells relate to the development of cancer, using animal models and human tissues to uncover clues that could inform prevention and treatment.
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.