How immune antibodies attack nerve receptors called cys-loop receptors
Official title: Structural mechanisms of autoimmune diseases targeting cys-loop receptors
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11248361 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use antibodies from patients with conditions like myasthenia gravis and autoimmune encephalitis to map how those antibodies bind and block nerve receptors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,578 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS130831-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11248361 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with autoimmune conditions that target cys-loop receptors—such as myasthenia gravis, autoimmune encephalitis, or autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy—who can provide blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disorders do not involve cys-loop receptors or who cannot provide biospecimens are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project in the near term.
What this research studies
You may be asked to donate blood or cerebrospinal fluid so scientists can isolate antibodies found in people with autoimmune diseases that affect nerve receptors. The team will clone patient-derived antibodies and test how they change receptor function using electrophysiology (electrical recordings). They will make antibody fragments and determine 3-D structures of the antibody-receptor complexes to see exactly where and how binding occurs. Combining the structure and functional data will help explain how these antibodies cause symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify exact mechanisms of antibody damage and point to more specific diagnostics or targeted therapies for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Related work has identified pathogenic antibodies in diseases like myasthenia gravis and autoimmune encephalitis, but detailed structural mapping of cys-loop receptor–antibody complexes is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hibbs, Ryan E — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Hibbs, Ryan E
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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.