Mapping protein signals and messages inside individual immune cells
Comprehensive characterization of immune signaling networks in single-cells by joint quantification of proteins, protein complexes and mRNA
A new method to measure many proteins, protein complexes, and RNA inside single immune cells to help understand immune behavior for people with autoimmune diseases, infections, and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261206 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a technique called iProx-seq that tags proteins and nearby protein partners with DNA barcodes so their presence and interactions can be read alongside each cell’s RNA. This lets them measure hundreds of proteins and thousands of potential protein-protein complexes together with gene activity in thousands of single immune cells. They will first optimize the lab method for accuracy and scale, then use it to study how signaling networks change during immune cell development and activation. The work focuses on B cells and signaling pathways that are important to autoimmunity, infection responses, and cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune diseases, certain infections, or immune-related cancers may qualify for future studies that use this technology or for donating blood or tissue samples.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions do not involve immune-cell signaling (for example purely structural or metabolic disorders) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technology could reveal new immune cell states and signaling interactions that lead to better diagnostics, biomarkers, or targets for therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar single-cell methods that measure RNA and some proteins exist and have been useful, but large-scale joint measurement of protein complexes is a novel and experimental advance.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- University of Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tay, Savas — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Tay, Savas
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.