How the T-cell kinase ITK shapes immune responses
Official title: Structural Studies of a T cell Specific Tyrosine Kinase
Funded at Iowa State University · NIH-11132988 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a protein called ITK influences T cells so we can better tune immune responses for infections and autoimmune conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ames, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 1999 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $535,619 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI043957-27 |
| Project ID | NIH-11132988 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with autoimmune diseases or chronic/recurrent infections would be the most likely to benefit from or be invited to related future studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with health problems unrelated to the immune system or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic lab research.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how the protein ITK controls T cell signaling using structural methods and lab experiments on immune cells. They compare strong and weak T cell receptor signals to see which genes turn on or off and how ITK changes those patterns. The team uses biochemical, cell-based, and structural approaches to map ITK's role in tuning T cell behavior. If you have an autoimmune condition or recurrent infections, the findings could point toward ways to adjust T cell activity in future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to fine-tune T cell activity for autoimmune diseases, infections, or T cell–based therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior laboratory studies have shown ITK affects T cell signaling, but using detailed structural knowledge to guide precise therapeutic tuning is still largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa State University
Ames, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andreotti, Amy H — Iowa State University
- Study coordinator: Andreotti, Amy H
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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.