LSP1 gene in T cells and its role in inflammatory bowel disease
Official title: Genetic studies linking LSP1 function in T cells to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Funded at La Jolla Institute for Immunology · NIH-11296838 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether lower levels of the LSP1 gene in certain T cells push immune cells to drive worse inflammatory bowel disease in people with IBD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | La Jolla Institute for Immunology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $402,600 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135683-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11296838 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) who are willing to provide blood or biopsy samples, and possibly healthy volunteers for comparison, would be ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without IBD or those looking for an immediate new treatment are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Researchers will use genetic data and single-cell tests on activated CD4+ T cells from people to find the genetic variants that lower LSP1 levels. They will study how reduced LSP1 changes T cell behavior and makes cells more likely to become inflammatory (for example TH1 or TH17-type cells). Laboratory models and human-derived immune cells will be used to mimic low LSP1 and trace how that change affects inflammation. The goal is to link specific genetic changes to immune cell reprogramming that could explain flares and progression in IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets to stop T cells from becoming more inflammatory and lead to therapies that reduce relapses or slow IBD progression.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large genetic and single-cell studies have linked immune genes to IBD risk, but directly connecting and functionally testing LSP1 as a brake on pathogenic T cell states is a newer, less-tested direction.
Where this research is happening
-
La Jolla Institute for Immunology
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmiedel, Benjamin Joachim — La Jolla Institute for Immunology
- Study coordinator: Schmiedel, Benjamin Joachim
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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.