Understanding how regulatory T cells stay balanced in the gut
Official title: Dissecting the intestinal niche for regulatory T cells
Funded at Philadelphia VA Medical Center · NIH-11264934 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A care-focused grant looking at how the body’s regulatory T cells keep the gut calm in health and inflammatory bowel disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Philadelphia VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005685-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11264934 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and healthy individuals whose tissues may be studied to understand Treg biology.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without IBD may not directly benefit unless the findings lead to broader therapies.
What this research studies
This grant explores how two kinds of regulatory T cells help maintain intestinal tolerance and prevent inflammation in diseases like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Researchers will study Treg cells in both mouse models and human tissue to understand where they live in the gut and how they work during health and when IBD flares occur. The goal is to identify the mechanisms that keep Tregs functional and prevent excessive immune responses in the intestinal lining. The work could point toward new ways to support gut health and reduce inflammation for people with IBD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to strategies to strengthen gut tolerance and reduce intestinal inflammation in IBD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show Treg biology is linked to intestinal tolerance, with both thymus-derived and peripherally-derived Tregs contributing to gut health.
Where this research is happening
-
Philadelphia VA Medical Center
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Laufer, Terri M. — Philadelphia VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Laufer, Terri M.
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.