Reprogramming immune cells to restore ovarian function and fight ovarian tumors
Reprogramming Double Negative T Cells to Combat Autoimmune Ovarian Failure and Ovarian Tumors
This work aims to turn a type of immune cell into helpers that could restore ovarian function for women with autoimmune ovarian failure and be adjusted to boost immune attack on ovarian tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11494461 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study double-negative T cells (DNTs) that naturally regulate immune activity in the ovary and learn how they form from ordinary CD8+ T cells. They will attempt to reprogram peripheral CD8+ T cells into DNT-like cells and test whether giving these cells back can restore ovarian function in models of autoimmune ovarian failure. The team will also examine DNTs found in ovarian tumors to understand when these cells help the ovary and when they might allow tumors to hide. Findings will guide ways to promote DNT activity for fertility recovery while identifying strategies to limit DNT-driven immune tolerance in ovarian cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with autoimmune ovarian failure and people with ovarian tumors could be the future candidates for therapies developed from this research.
Not a fit: People whose ovarian problems are due to non-immune causes or patients far from clinical translation are unlikely to benefit directly from this early-stage work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to new treatments that restore fertility for people with autoimmune ovarian failure and improve immune-based therapies for ovarian cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal work, including adoptive transfer of DNTs, has shown promise in restoring ovarian function in models, but translation to human treatments is still new.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bafor, Enitome — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Bafor, Enitome
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.