Understanding how certain immune cells develop and function in infections and cancer
Official title: Developmental acquisition of memory-phenotype CD8+ T cell function in infection and cancer
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11071275 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a special type of immune cell that helps your body fight infections and cancer, to better understand how these cells work and how they can be used to improve treatments for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $53,974 |
| NIH project number | 1F30AI183709-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11071275 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with cancer or infections who are interested in understanding their immune response.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with autoimmune diseases or those who do not have a significant immune response may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a specific type of immune cell known as CD8 memory phenotype (CD8-MP) T cells, which play a crucial role in the body's response to infections and cancer. The study aims to uncover how these cells differentiate and function, particularly in the context of recognizing self-antigens and responding to tumors. By analyzing these cells in both infection and cancer settings, the research seeks to provide insights into their potential roles in anti-tumor immunity. This could lead to new strategies for enhancing immune responses in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies that enhance the immune system's ability to fight infections and cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune cell functions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maheshwari, Nikita — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Maheshwari, Nikita
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Education and violence: Can high-dosage tutoring reduce youth violence
A large study in Chicago schools will test whether high-dosage tutoring for students can lessen youth violence by improving learning and outcomes.
-
Cognitive SuperAging: Exploring why some octogenarians stay sharp in memory
This NIH grant studies why a small group of people aged 80+ keep memory skills as good as much younger people, hoping to understand how to protect memory as we age.
-
Lens proteins, cell stress, and cataracts in kids and adults
A study aims to understand how lens proteins and cellular stress contribute to cataracts, in both humans and mice, with the goal of guiding prevention or treatment.
-
Understanding how neurons keep their identity and function for life
Scientists are studying how nerve cells maintain their distinctive identity and function from development through aging, using human-derived neurons and a simple worm model to uncover the long-term control of brain cell behavior.
-
Cardiac Sarcomere Protein Quality Control in Health and Disease
A heart-focused study looking at how heart muscle proteins get misfolded and how the cell’s cleanup system might fix this to protect heart function.
-
Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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.