Molecular clues behind how fetal and adult T cells develop differently
Official title: Molecular basis for contrasting programs of fetal and adult T cell development
Funded at California Institute of Technology · NIH-11376585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at why T cells formed before birth behave differently from those formed after birth, using human samples and advanced chromatin analysis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2019 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,920 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD100039-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older whose immune systems are studied through samples or data linked to the fetal-to-adult T cell development pathway.
✕Less likely to help
If you do not contribute samples or data related to T cell development, the research may not directly affect you.
What this research studies
The project aims to uncover the regulatory factors that give fetal and postnatal T cells their distinct development timelines and outputs. Researchers will study the chromatin landscape of T cell precursors from gestation through adulthood, focusing on assays like ATAC-seq to map accessible regions and gene regulation. By comparing fetal and adult thymocytes, the study hopes to reveal why early T cells can generate unique cell subsets and faster maturation even in shared environments. Findings could illuminate how early-life immune programming shapes lifelong immunity and susceptibility to diseases. Work will integrate in vitro cocultures and in vivo analyses to connect molecular mechanisms with developmental outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how early-life T cells are programmed could lead to new strategies for boosting immune health across the lifespan.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies using ATAC-seq and thymic T cell development have shown meaningful insights into chromatin regulation and lineage outcomes, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rothenberg, Ellen V. — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Rothenberg, Ellen V.
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.