Investigating T cell responses in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases
Official title: CD4 AND CD8 T CELL EPITOPES RECOGNIZED IN AUTOIMMUNE AND AUTOINFLAMMATORY DISEASES
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11203645 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain immune cells called T cells recognize proteins in diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, and it aims to find new ways to understand and treat these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,200,000 |
| NIH project number | 75N93024C00085-0-9999-1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11203645 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases who are interested in understanding their condition better.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-autoimmune related conditions or those without any immune system involvement may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how T cells, specifically CD4 and CD8 types, recognize specific proteins in autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. The team will use advanced techniques such as mass-spectrometry to isolate peptides from tissues, single-cell sequencing to analyze T cell receptors, and functional screening to assess T cell activity. By characterizing the epitopes recognized by different T cell types, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms behind T cell activation and its role in various diseases. This could lead to better understanding and potential new treatments for conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and targeted therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding T cell responses in autoimmune diseases, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stern, Lawrence — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Stern, Lawrence
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.