How immune-cell metabolism affects tuberculosis risk
Project 1 Immunometabolic Determinants of Susceptibility
['FUNDING_P01'] · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · NIH-11173654
This work looks at how the energy use and stress responses inside infection-fighting cells influence whether people exposed to tuberculosis control the bug or develop active disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_P01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (WORCESTER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11173654 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will study immune cells in lab dishes, test mechanisms in animal models, and analyze samples from several human TB cohorts to link cell metabolism and stress responses to infection outcomes. They focus on mitochondria and the unfolded protein response in macrophages to understand why some people control Mycobacterium tuberculosis while others develop disease. The team will search for metabolic markers in blood or tissue that predict progression and then try candidate therapies designed to boost protective immunity. If you join a cohort, you might be asked to provide blood or other samples and allow access to your clinical information.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with latent or active tuberculosis, household contacts of TB patients, or participants already enrolled in TB research cohorts who can give samples and clinical data.
Not a fit: People without TB exposure or with illnesses unrelated to tuberculosis are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could yield blood-based markers that predict who is at risk for active TB and lead to new therapies that strengthen immune cells to prevent or treat disease.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked immune-cell metabolism to TB outcomes and identified promising markers, but targeting these pathways with immunotherapies in humans is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
WORCESTER, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER — WORCESTER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SASSETTI, CHRISTOPHER M — UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- Study coordinator: SASSETTI, CHRISTOPHER M
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.