T cells that target a gut protein (integrin αvβ6) in ulcerative colitis
Official title: Characterizing circulating and visceral T cells specific for the autoantigen integrin αvβ6 in ulcerative colitis
Funded at Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason · NIH-11240348 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for immune T cells that help make antibodies against a gut protein called integrin αvβ6 in people with ulcerative colitis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | December 4, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $216,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI188483-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11240348 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with ulcerative colitis who can provide colon tissue or mesenteric lymph nodes during surgery or who can give blood samples, plus healthy volunteers for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
People without UC or those unable to provide blood or tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If I have ulcerative colitis, the team will look in blood, removed lymph nodes, and colon tissue to find T cells that recognize the gut protein integrin αvβ6. They will use a lab test called the AIM assay to find and profile these cells and then isolate them for detailed single-cell analysis. The work uses a bank of frozen surgical and blood samples from people with UC, Crohn's disease, and healthy volunteers. Learning which T cells drive these antibodies may explain how tolerance is lost in UC and point to new ways to stop it.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal why the immune system attacks a gut protein in UC and suggest new targets to prevent or treat the disease.
How similar studies have gone: The AIM assay has successfully identified autoantigen-specific T cells in type 1 diabetes, but applying it to αvβ6 in ulcerative colitis is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lord, James Daniel — Benaroya Research Inst at Virginia Mason
- Study coordinator: Lord, James Daniel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Outpatient pathway for severe ulcerative colitis in the right care setting
This study tests a safe, outpatient approach using an oral therapy and remote monitoring for people with acute severe ulcerative colitis to avoid hospitalization.
-
Fh15-based therapy to calm inflammation in sepsis and ulcerative colitis
A research project tests a molecule from a parasitic organism (Fh15) to reduce harmful inflammation in adults with sepsis or ulcerative colitis.
-
IMYX-3 treatment for ulcerative colitis
A new therapy approach called IMYX-3 aims to help adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who have not responded well to current treatments.
-
Autoantibodies and ulcerative colitis: how avb6 antibodies may drive disease
This NIH grant aims to understand how antibodies against a gut cell protein (αvβ6) may actively contribute to ulcerative colitis and what that means for future treatments.
-
Selenium supplementation to help moderate-severe ulcerative colitis flare-ups
This grant tests whether giving selenium can help people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis reduce flares and improve symptoms.
-
Development of TP-317 for Ulcerative Colitis
A new therapy approach for ulcerative colitis aims to repair the intestinal lining and restore immune balance in people with UC, addressing a need for patients who don’t fully respond to current treatments.
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.