Macrophage biology and metabolism in TB infection
Official title: Macrophage nuclear receptors, metabolism and immune effectors during health and M. tuberculosis infection
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11378766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying human lung macrophages to understand how they regulate immune responses and support or limit tuberculosis infection, with the goal of improving treatments that help the body fight TB.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2019 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $776,975 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI136831-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378766 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with tuberculosis or those at risk of TB who could donate samples or participate in related future studies.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without TB or related conditions may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project uses a human-alveolar macrophage model to uncover how transcriptional regulators and metabolic pathways shape macrophage defenses during health and TB infection. It builds on prior work showing that certain nuclear receptors influence Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival and explores new nuclear receptor families (NR4A1/2/3) in human macrophages. The research combines molecular biology, cell models, and preclinical tests of host-directed therapies to see if targeting these pathways can reduce bacterial growth. By focusing on human cells and relevant disease context, the study aims to identify actionable targets for better TB treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new host-directed therapies that boost the body's ability to control TB and reduce reliance on antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in this area showed that targeting specific nuclear receptors can impact TB growth in human macrophages, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schlesinger, Larry S. — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Schlesinger, Larry S.
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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.