Transitional dendritic cells and their role in viral infections
Official title: Transitional dendritic cells: identifying the origin and role of a novel innate immune population during viral infection
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11228084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to understand a new type of immune cell called transitional dendritic cells and how they help fight viruses in humans and mice.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | February 12, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $679,594 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI158808-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-11228084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be individuals with viral infections or conditions where antiviral immune responses are critical, contributing samples or data as part of translational follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
Some findings may be most relevant to basic immunology and future therapies, with no immediate benefit for every patient.
What this research studies
This project looks at how transitional dendritic cells, along with conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, coordinate the body’s early and later immune responses to viral infections. Researchers will use advanced analysis, cell culture assays, and mouse models to trace cell development and how these cells communicate with each other during infection. The study plans to map how these cells activate innate defenses and shape adaptive immunity, using lineage tracing and cell-specific depletion techniques. The goal is to fill a basic knowledge gap that could inform future therapies that harness these cells to fight viruses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to boost antiviral immunity by targeting transitional dendritic cells and their interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data support that transitional dendritic cells exist and interact with other DCs, but comprehensive functional mapping is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Idoyaga, Juliana — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Idoyaga, Juliana
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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.