How immune cells help control chronic hepatitis B
Integrated analysis of HBV-specific CD4 T cell and B cell responses to define their role in chronic hepatitis B and HBV functional cure.
This research looks at how two immune cell types (CD4 T cells and B cells) in adults with hepatitis B act differently in people who clear the virus versus those with long-term infection to find clues for treatments that could lead to a functional cure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11388070 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join well-defined clinical groups of adults with different hepatitis B outcomes, including people who naturally control the virus and those with chronic infection. Researchers will collect blood samples to study HBV-specific CD4 T cells and B cells, measuring their functions and molecular activity. They will use an integrated systems approach combining cellular assays, antibody analyses, and gene-expression data to find patterns linked to cure or persistent infection. The findings will be used to guide development of targeted immunotherapies and better therapeutic vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults age 21 and older with chronic hepatitis B or people who have naturally controlled HBV are the most relevant candidates for participation.
Not a fit: Children under 21, people without hepatitis B, or those unable to provide blood samples are unlikely to benefit from participating in this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal immune targets and biomarkers that help develop new treatments or vaccines enabling a functional cure for hepatitis B.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have found immune markers linked to HBV control, but combining detailed CD4 T cell and B cell molecular profiling within the same patient cohorts is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lauer, Georg Michael — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lauer, Georg Michael
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.