Stopping harmful inflammation from bacterial infections by targeting RIPK2
Official title: Innate Immune Signal Transduction Specificity in Inflammatory Disease
Funded at National Jewish Health · NIH-11261104 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are developing drugs that block a protein called RIPK2 to reduce damaging inflammation in people with certain bacterial infections or inflammatory conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | National Jewish Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $415,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM141603-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11261104 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inflammatory conditions thought to be driven by excessive NOD2/RIPK2 signaling or with recurrent intracellular bacterial infections would be the most likely candidates for future trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose disease is caused by other pathways or who need stronger immune responses (immunodeficiency) are unlikely to benefit and could be harmed by blocking inflammation.
What this research studies
This work focuses on how cells detect intracellular bacteria and trigger inflammation that can sometimes become harmful. The team has created chemical inhibitors of the enzyme RIPK2 and is preparing them for early clinical steps. They are mapping RIPK2-driven signaling using mass spectrometry, phosphoproteomic databases, and chemical genetics to find real molecular targets and biomarkers. The goal is to understand who might benefit from RIPK2-blocking medicines and how those drugs should be used safely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to new medicines that dial down damaging inflammation in people with bacterial infection–related or other RIPK2-driven inflammatory diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work and early chemical development have been promising and RIPK2 inhibitors are at the pre-IND stage, but clinical benefit in people has not yet been demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
National Jewish Health
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abbott, Derek W — National Jewish Health
- Study coordinator: Abbott, Derek W
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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.