Understanding how mechanical forces affect T cell behavior
Official title: Mechanisms and manipulation of force dependent behavior in T cell biology
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11031996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how physical forces affect T cells, which are important for fighting infections and tumors, to find new ways to boost their activity and improve immune responses for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | March 2, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $735,147 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI176665-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve T cell dysfunction, such as cancer or chronic infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to T cell biology or those who do not have immune system involvement may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how mechanical forces influence the behavior of T cells, which are crucial for the immune response. It focuses on the interactions between T cell receptors (TCR) and peptide-MHC complexes, exploring how these interactions can be affected by physical forces. By studying the formation of catch bonds, which enhance T cell signaling, the research aims to uncover new mechanisms that could improve T cell responses to infections and tumors. Patients may benefit from insights gained into how to enhance immune responses through manipulation of these forces.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved therapies that enhance T cell responses against infections and cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in understanding T cell mechanics, but this specific approach to manipulating catch bonds is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Brian M — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Baker, Brian M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Designer covalent blockers to stop IgE-driven allergic reactions
A new approach aims to block IgE antibodies that trigger allergic reactions in people with allergic asthma, potentially reducing severe symptoms without broad immune suppression.
-
A life-course view of how early adversity shapes health as people grow up
This NIH grant looks at how tough experiences in childhood and adolescence affect health and aging later in life, using data from people and animal studies to understand why some outcomes are worse and how social factors can help.
-
How a simple, evidence-based approach helps mothers and kids in Peru feel better
A study tests a flexible, lay-delivered mental-health program called CETA for mothers of young children in Lima to improve family well-being.
-
Open-Source tools to test conversational AI for dementia care
A multilingual AI benchmarking project aims to help improve chatbots and virtual assistants used in Alzheimer’s and related dementias, with open tools and datasets for researchers and clinicians.
-
Decoding how human CD8+ T cells recognize donor HLA in transplant rejection
This project studies why certain T cells attack transplanted kidneys, with the goal of understanding which cells drive acute rejection and how they recognize donor HLA.
-
Targeted antibody-guided nanoparticles to treat CMV infection
A new treatment approach combines CMV-targeting antibodies with drug-loaded nanoparticles to deliver antiviral medicine directly to infected cells, aiming to improve efficacy and reduce side effects for people with CMV infection.
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.