Understanding How Our Bodies Fight the Flu
Deciphering the Heterogeneous Response to Influenza by a Multi-Scale Systems Approach
This research aims to understand why some people get sicker from the flu than others, especially young children and those with weaker immune systems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136282 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that seasonal flu can be very serious, especially for certain groups like young children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. This project looks closely at how our immune system, including antibodies and other immune cells, responds to the flu virus. By studying these responses, we hope to learn why some individuals recover well while others experience severe illness. Our goal is to uncover the precise ways our bodies fight off the flu, or sometimes struggle to, using a comprehensive approach.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is particularly relevant for individuals in high-risk groups for severe influenza, such as young children, pregnant women, obese individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience influenza or are not in the identified high-risk groups may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to predict who is at risk for severe flu and help develop more effective treatments or vaccines.
How similar studies have performed: Previous investments by the NIAID have generated data to improve understanding of infectious diseases, and this work builds upon those efforts to clarify specific immune mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forst, Christian — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Forst, Christian
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.