Reprogramming immune cells to restore ovarian function and fight ovarian tumors
Official title: Reprogramming Double Negative T Cells to Combat Autoimmune Ovarian Failure and Ovarian Tumors
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11494461 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,976 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD109370-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11494461 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with autoimmune ovarian failure and people with ovarian tumors could be the future candidates for therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
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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.