Understanding how childhood T cell development shapes adult autoimmune diseases
Official title: Dissecting dynamic genetic effects from thymus development to immune-mediated disease
Funded at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory · NIH-11313815 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how genetic differences influence T cell development in children and how that affects autoimmune diseases later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cold Spring Harbor, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,285 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167862-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313815 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults whose autoimmune conditions are influenced by genetics and who contribute pediatric thymus or peripheral immune cells for research.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without autoimmune disease risk genes or without participation in related sample collection may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory will study how genetic variants affect T cell development in the pediatric thymus and how these early changes influence immune responses in adulthood. The project uses single-cell gene expression and genetic mapping to connect childhood immune development with later disease risk. By following the progression from thymic maturation to peripheral immune function, the study aims to pinpoint when and how genetic risk factors exert their effects. The work could reveal targets for early interventions to reduce the likelihood of autoimmune diseases in people who carry specific genetic variants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of childhood immune development could lead to earlier identification of individuals at risk and new strategies to prevent autoimmune diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work linking genetics to immune cell development has yielded important insights, and this study extends those findings into childhood development.
Where this research is happening
-
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Cold Spring Harbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyer, Hannah Verena — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Study coordinator: Meyer, Hannah Verena
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.