How our genes and immune cells remember allergies in kids and adults
Official title: Cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of allergic diseases
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11354168 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A national study will look at how genes and immune cells remember allergies, from children to adults, to understand why allergic reactions happen and persist.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,412,216 |
| NIH project number | 1U19AI198425-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354168 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults with allergic diseases (such as asthma and atopic conditions) and healthy controls.
✕Less likely to help
People without allergic diseases or those not eligible for sample donation may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to map how allergens and environmental exposures influence the immune system’s memory at the genetic level. Researchers will study innate immune cells, such as ILCs and NK cells, to identify epigenetic changes that underlie allergic sensitization. The work will use human samples to compare allergic individuals with healthy controls, focusing on chromatin accessibility and memory formation. Findings could reveal why allergies start early in life and how memory effects persist across generations. The project is organized into specialized projects and cores to manage data, samples, and analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to prevent or lessen allergic reactions by targeting the cellular memory mechanisms.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that epigenetic changes are linked to immune memory, but this project explores memory formation in specific human immune cells related to allergies.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alam, Rafeul — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Alam, Rafeul
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.