How the antibody IgG4 may trigger food-related eosinophilic esophagitis
Official title: Defining the Role of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) in Food-Induced Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11320742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether the antibody IgG4 and food proteins stick together in the esophagus and cause inflammation in people with eosinophilic esophagitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,419 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI175232-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, especially those undergoing endoscopy with biopsies or who have active symptoms, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without EoE, those with other types of esophagitis, or those not having biopsy/sample collection are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you have eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), researchers will examine esophageal biopsy tissue and blood to look for IgG4 antibodies and their association with food proteins. They will use lab staining (immunofluorescence) and other assays to see where IgG4 and food particles are located in the tissue and whether they sit near cells that drive inflammation. The team will compare samples from people with active disease to those in remission to link IgG4 deposits with symptoms and eosinophil activation. Results could point to a way to identify food triggers using tissue or blood markers and guide new treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new tests that find food triggers and new treatments that target IgG4-related inflammation in EoE.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier research has found IgG4 in EoE tissue and preliminary data show IgG4-food co-localization, but using IgG4 for diagnosis or treatment in EoE remains novel and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgowan, Emily Clarke — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Mcgowan, Emily Clarke
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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.