STAT3 gene changes and immune balance

STAT3 variants as a rheostat of immune tolerance

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11261109

Researchers are working on ways to fix harmful STAT3 gene changes that can cause immune problems in people with autoimmune conditions, including forms of diabetes.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-11261109 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This program brings together three teams to study how specific STAT3 gene changes tip the immune system toward autoimmunity. Teams will analyze immune cells from people with STAT3 gain-of-function changes, use animal models to see how those changes cause skin inflammation and type 1 diabetes, and apply CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to study and attempt genetic repair of STAT3 in human cells. Two scientific cores will support shared resources and collaborative experiments across projects. The work combines patient-derived samples, cutting-edge gene-editing tools, and animal studies to point toward potential therapies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people known to have STAT3 gain-of-function mutations or patients with autoimmune/brittle diabetes interested in contributing samples or joining related clinical efforts.

Not a fit: People whose diabetes or immune problems are unrelated to STAT3 mutations may not see direct benefit from this specific work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that correct STAT3 defects and reduce harmful autoimmune responses such as those seen in type 1 or brittle diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked STAT3 mutations to autoimmune disease, but using CRISPR-based repair in human cells is a newer, largely preclinical approach.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autoimmune DiabetesBrittle Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.