Investigating how immune proteins affect COVID-19 severity
Official title: Intracellular Membrane Attack Complexes and COVID-19 Immune Hyperactivation
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10844646 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain proteins in your immune system might cause problems in your blood vessels during severe COVID-19, and it's for anyone interested in understanding why some people get sicker than others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 19, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $209,375 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI178582-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10844646 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, particularly those showing signs of immune hyperactivation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms or those who have recovered from the virus may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of complement proteins in the immune response during severe COVID-19. It focuses on how these proteins form membrane attack complexes that can disrupt cell function without causing cell death. By examining the internalization of these complexes in endothelial cells, the study aims to uncover new mechanisms of immune hyperactivation that contribute to tissue injury in COVID-19 patients. The approach includes using specific viral antigens to trigger the formation of these complexes and studying their effects on cell behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic strategies to mitigate immune-related damage in COVID-19 patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the role of complement proteins in immune responses is well-established, this specific investigation into their non-cytolytic effects in COVID-19 is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jane-Wit, Daniel — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Jane-Wit, Daniel
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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.