Regulation of innate immune cell death in infectious disease
Official title: Regulation of innate immune cell death
Funded at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NIH-11551494 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist is studying how the body’s first-line immune cells die and release signals that can help or harm when flu viruses like H5N1 spread, to find ways to prevent dangerous inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Memphis, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $898,654 |
| NIH project number | 2R56AI160179-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11551494 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-enrolling study; results may inform treatments benefiting people with severe flu or inflammatory conditions in the future.
✕Less likely to help
This grant does not involve direct patient participation or recruitment.
What this research studies
This project looks at how innate immune cells sense infection and trigger cell death, which can either protect us or cause cytokine storms. Researchers will examine specific sensors and protein complexes that control inflammatory responses during influenza infections. The aim is to understand how different flu strains, including H5N1, provoke these pathways and what regulates them in the body. The work uses animal models and immune biology techniques to uncover mechanisms that could guide safer therapies. If successful, findings could point to targets that reduce harmful inflammation without compromising immune defense.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new strategies to prevent severe inflammatory responses during flu infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that modulating innate immune sensors can alter inflammation, but much remains unknown across different flu strains.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kanneganti, Thirumala-Devi
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.