How the body calms immune overreactions during the flu
Negative regulation of innate immunity in influenza virus infection
Finding how proteins switch off parts of the immune system during influenza infections to help people at risk of dangerous lung inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11223306 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will be reading about lab work that looks at how the airway’s first-line defenses are kept under control during flu infection. Researchers focus on molecules that act as "off" switches for innate immunity, including a regulatory protein called Pirin, using cell models and virus infections to map the signaling steps. The team uses molecular biology and functional assays to see what causes harmful overactive inflammation and which points could be targeted by drugs. This lab-based work aims to point the way toward new treatments that could be tested in people later on.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People recently infected with influenza or those at high risk for severe flu complications, especially with respiratory symptoms, would be most relevant to future clinical work based on this project.
Not a fit: People without influenza or those seeking immediate symptom relief are unlikely to get direct benefit from this primarily laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify drug targets that prevent dangerous lung inflammation and reduce severe flu complications.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has clarified immune activation pathways in flu, but targeting negative regulators like Pirin is relatively new and has not yet produced patient treatments.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia State University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jian-Dong — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Jian-Dong
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.