How radiation affects immune cells and how to protect against infection after exposure
Official title: Mechanisms of Radiation-Induced Innate Immune Dysfunction and Its Countermeasures
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-11362259 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how radiation changes the body's first responders to infection and how to counteract that damage to help people survive and fight bacteria after radiation exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $775,175 |
| NIH project number | 5U01AI170018-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362259 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk of or exposed to radiation where immune function is compromised and who might benefit from treatments that boost macrophage bacteria clearance.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without radiation exposure or without immune suppression related to radiation are unlikely to benefit from these specific immune-targeted approaches.
What this research studies
This project looks at how radiation disrupts macrophage function, the cells that clear bacteria when neutrophils drop after exposure. They are investigating a molecule called eCIRP that seems to drive immune dysfunction and how it signals through TREM-1 to impair bacterial clearance. By identifying pathways that worsen infection after radiation, the study aims to uncover targets that could be blocked to improve survival and control bacterial load in affected individuals. The research uses animal models to test whether removing or inhibiting eCIRP can restore macrophage phagocytosis and reduce sepsis risk following irradiation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that improve the body’s ability to clear bacteria after radiation exposure, reducing infections and improving survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in mice suggest that removing eCIRP and targeting its pathways can improve infection outcomes after irradiation, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ping — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ping
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.