T Cell Exhaustion and CD4 Help in Chronic Viral Infection
Official title: TCR signaling regulated T cell exhaustion in response to chronic viral infection
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11387651 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how CD8+ T cells become worn out during long-lasting infections and how CD4+ T cells help restore their fight against viruses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 7, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $627,462 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI189723-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387651 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with chronic viral infections where T cell exhaustion limits control of the virus.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose immune exhaustion is not driven by the studied T cell pathways may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant aims to understand why CD8+ T cells lose effectiveness in chronic viral infections and how CD4+ helper cells influence this process. The team will use advanced single-cell sequencing to map the development of exhausted versus antiviral T cells and trace their ancestry with paired scRNA-seq and TCR sequencing. They will investigate how IL-21-producing CD4+ cells and specific dendritic cells drive the formation of a potent CX3CR1+ antiviral subset, with attention to TCR signaling strength. The findings could reveal new therapeutic angles to bolster immune responses in chronic infections, potentially informing future clinical strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights could lead to new strategies to enhance antiviral immunity in patients with chronic infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified exhausted and progenitor T cell subsets, and this project builds on that by linking TCR signaling to fate decisions, with some early supportive data.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Weiguo — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Cui, Weiguo
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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.