Switchable immune receptors to make cell therapies safer for autoimmune disease
Conditional control of universal antigen receptor signaling
Researchers are making programmable immune cells that can be turned on only at disease sites to help people with autoimmune conditions more safely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163442 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work engineers immune cells (T cells) to carry "universal" receptors that can be chemically programmed to target different disease markers using removable adaptor molecules. The team is developing two systems called SNAP-CAR and SNAP-synNotch that bind labeled adaptors so the same cell product can be retargeted or controlled after infusion. By adding chemical controls and sensing local signals, they aim to limit cell activation to diseased tissue and reduce damage to healthy cells. The project is lab-focused now but is designed to lead toward safer cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with severe or treatment-resistant autoimmune diseases who might be candidates for advanced cell therapy in future clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients with mild or well-controlled autoimmune disease or those needing immediate treatment are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce cell therapies that selectively attack disease-causing cells while causing fewer side effects.
How similar studies have performed: CAR T-cell therapies have worked well for some blood cancers, but using switchable universal receptors is a newer approach with mostly laboratory and early-stage data so far.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lohmueller, Jason Jakob — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Lohmueller, Jason Jakob
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.