Pulmonary nerve signals shaping antibody production against pneumonia
Official title: Pulmonary neuroimmune determinants of immunoglobulin production against pneumonia
Funded at Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center · NIH-11381799 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how the lungs’ sensory nerves influence the body’s antibody response to pneumonia-causing bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Torrance, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $656,958 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL176463-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11381799 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with community-acquired pneumonia or high risk for pneumococcal infection could benefit from advances informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
If neural regulation of humoral immunity differs from the studied models, direct patient benefit may be limited until translational steps are taken.
What this research studies
This project explores how signals from sensory nerves in the lungs affect how B cells mature and produce antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Researchers will look at how neuropeptides released by nerves might stimulate antibody production and interaction with neutrophils to clear infection, in lab and animal models and potentially human samples. The goal is to uncover neural pathways that shape humoral immunity to lung infections and identify targets that could boost vaccine or treatment responses. Findings could help people at risk of pneumonia by informing new therapeutic approaches that support protective antibody responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies that enhance antibody responses to pneumonia, potentially reducing infections and improving outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest neural regulation can influence immune responses, but this specific neuro-immune interaction in lung antibody production is an area of active, emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jendzjowsky, Nicholas — Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Jendzjowsky, Nicholas
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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.