Understanding and Protecting Against Radiation's Effects on Immunity
Mechanisms of Radiation-Induced Innate Immune Dysfunction and Its Countermeasures
This research explores how radiation exposure weakens the body's defenses against bacterial infections and looks for ways to protect people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When people are exposed to high levels of radiation, like in an accident, their immune system becomes much weaker, making them vulnerable to serious bacterial infections. Our body's immune cells, called macrophages, are crucial for fighting off these bacteria, but we don't fully understand how radiation affects them. This project aims to discover how radiation impacts these important immune cells and identify a specific protein, eCIRP, that might be causing this immune weakness. By understanding eCIRP's role, we hope to find new ways to protect people from severe infections after radiation exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is for future patients who might experience significant radiation exposure and are at risk of severe bacterial infections.
Not a fit: Patients not at risk of significant radiation exposure would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that strengthen the immune system and prevent life-threatening bacterial infections in individuals exposed to radiation.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of radiation in immune suppression is known, very few studies have specifically looked at how radiation affects macrophage function and the role of eCIRP, making this a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Manhasset, United States
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research — Manhasset, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ping — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ping
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.