Immune memory cells in the lining of the uterus
Project 2: Genesis and dynamics of human endometrial resident memory T cells revealed by uterus transplant recipients
Looking at how long-lived immune cells form and behave in the lining of the uterus, including in people who receive uterus transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332863 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to give small samples of uterine lining or blood if you are a uterus transplant recipient or a healthy volunteer. Researchers will use advanced sequencing and cell-mapping techniques on those samples to identify and track resident memory T cells in the endometrium. They will compare samples from transplant recipients and from people with naturally cycling endometrium to see how tissue turnover and transplant affect these immune cells. The team aims to learn where these uterine resident T cells come from, how long they persist, and how they respond after transplant or over menstrual cycles.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include uterus transplant recipients and people of reproductive age willing to donate endometrial tissue or blood for research at participating sites.
Not a fit: People without a uterus, those unwilling to undergo biopsy or follow-up visits, and those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than contributing samples are unlikely to directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help develop better ways to prevent or treat uterine infections, improve outcomes after uterus transplant, and inform treatments for immune-related uterine conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Tissue immune mapping has provided useful insights in other organs, but applying these methods to the human endometrium and using uterus transplant recipients is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Porrett, Paige M — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Porrett, Paige M
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.