Understanding how early life factors influence peanut allergy risk
Official title: Interplay of the T Cell Repertoire Development and Early Life Exposure on Incident Risk of Peanut Allergy
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10898845 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how early life experiences might affect the immune system's response to peanuts, especially focusing on T cells, to help understand why some kids develop peanut allergies while others don’t.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $204,688 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI171059-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10898845 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants and young children, particularly those with a family history of allergies or those who have been exposed to peanuts early in life.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already diagnosed with peanut allergies or those outside the early life age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between the development of T cells and early life exposures in relation to the risk of developing peanut allergies. It focuses on how the immune system, particularly CD4+ T cells, responds to peanut antigens during critical early life stages, including in-utero and the first few years of life. By utilizing advanced sequencing technology, the study aims to analyze the T cell receptor repertoire and its dynamics over time, providing insights into potential risk and protective factors for peanut allergy development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for peanut allergies in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding immune responses related to allergies, but this specific approach focusing on T cell repertoire in early life is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hong, Xiumei — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Hong, Xiumei
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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.