New epigenetic regulators that guide T cell development
Official title: Identification of Novel Epigenetic Regulators of lymphocyte Development
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11486060 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to find epigenetic factors that control how T cells develop from stem cells to improve cell-based therapies for autoimmune diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | July 21, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 7R00HL170075-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11486060 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune diseases who might benefit from advanced T cell therapies in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not eligible for cell-based therapies or not connected to autoimmune conditions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses stem cell technology to grow T cells in the lab and looks for epigenetic regulators that influence their development. Researchers will test small molecules during iPSC-to-T cell differentiation to identify new factors that shape lymphoid outcomes. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could make lab-grown T cells more robust for potential adoptive T cell therapies in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could enable better, more effective lab-generated T cells for future autoimmune disease treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed epigenetic regulators can influence T cell development and iPSC-derived T cells, supporting potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jing, Ran — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Jing, Ran
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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.