NIH-funded research R01 grant

Hypoxia, TB, and T cell dysfunction in HIV-related risk settings

Official title: Hypoxia, tuberculosis, and T cell dysfunction

Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11331249 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This grant studies how low-oxygen conditions in tuberculosis-affected lungs affect T cells and may lead to weaker immunity in people with AIDS-related risk.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Worcester, United States)
Project startJune 1, 2023
Project endMay 31, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$680,174
NIH project number5R01AI172905-04
Project IDNIH-11331249 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Patients with HIV/AIDS or related immune suppression who are at risk for TB or have TB infection.

Less likely to help

Individuals without TB exposure or HIV-related immune compromise may not directly benefit from this basic mechanistic study.

What this research studies

In people with HIV/AIDS risk, latent tuberculosis can become active; this project uses a mouse model to explore how metabolic stress in the lungs, especially low oxygen in granulomas, changes CD4 and CD8 T cell function. The researchers aim to identify why immune defenses fail to contain TB and how hypoxia impacts T cell responses during infection. By comparing T cells from mice with severe disease to those from milder cases, the study seeks to uncover protective mechanisms that could inform future therapies or vaccines. The work focuses on the interaction between M. tuberculosis, metabolism, and T cell immunity in the lung environment.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Understanding how metabolic stress impairs T cells could lead to new strategies to boost immunity against TB in people at risk due to HIV/AIDS.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown T cell exhaustion in TB, but this project extends to CD4 T cells and metabolic stress in hypoxic granulomas, which remains an area with promising but evolving evidence.

Where this research is happening

  • Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
    Worcester, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Behar, Samuel M — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
  • Study coordinator: Behar, Samuel M

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.