Rare immune gene problems and anti‑interferon antibodies tied to severe COVID‑19
Inborn errors of immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19
Researchers are seeing whether rare inherited immune defects and antibodies that block interferon explain why some people develop life‑threatening COVID‑19.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103339 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project collects blood and clinical information from people who had life‑threatening COVID‑19 to look for rare changes in immune genes and for antibodies that neutralize type I interferons. Scientists will sequence genes involved in interferon pathways, measure interferon activity and interferon‑stimulated gene responses, and test for neutralizing autoantibodies. Findings from patients with severe disease will be compared with less severe or uninfected people to pinpoint causes of extreme illness. The work is conducted through an international collaboration coordinated with centers like Rockefeller University.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who experienced life‑threatening or unusually severe COVID‑19, especially when severity is unexpected for their age or health history, and who can provide medical records and blood samples.
Not a fit: People who had only mild COVID‑19 or whose illness is clearly due to non‑immune causes may not benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify people at high risk for severe COVID‑19 and guide targeted prevention or treatments tailored to the underlying immune problem.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work from this team and others already found that some rare immune gene defects and anti‑interferon autoantibodies explain a meaningful fraction of life‑threatening COVID‑19, so this builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Casanova, Jean-Laurent — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Casanova, Jean-Laurent
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.