How T and B immune memory develop and last in people
Evolution and Durability of Human T and B Cell Responses
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · NIH-11332845
Researchers are following T and B immune memory cells in blood and tissues over time using samples from people after infection, vaccination, and organ transplant.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11332845 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This program follows antigen-specific T and B memory cells using repeated blood draws and tissue samples, including material linked to organ transplants. Scientists will track individual immune cell clones over time with high-resolution single-cell and molecular methods to see where cells move, how long they survive, and how local tissue environments affect them. The work combines serial sampling, tissue analysis, and genetic tracking of B and T cell receptors to map immune memory as it evolves. Findings aim to connect changes in blood to what happens in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues rather than relying on single timepoint snapshots.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include people who have recently been vaccinated or infected and organ transplant donors/recipients willing to provide blood and tissue samples for research.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate changes to their medical treatment or those unable or unwilling to give blood or tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help scientists design vaccines and immune therapies that produce longer-lasting protection by revealing how durable immune memory is and what keeps it alive in tissues.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have mapped memory T and B cells in blood and at single timepoints in tissues, but longitudinally tracking antigen-specific clones across blood and tissues is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM — BIRMINGHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LUND, FRANCES E. — UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- Study coordinator: LUND, FRANCES E.
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.