Understanding how uterine natural killer cells develop and respond to hormones
Official title: Natural Killer Cell Recruitment and Differentiation
Funded at Loyola University Chicago · NIH-11375977 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short research grant is exploring how specific immune cells in the uterus form and behave, with a focus on how hormones like progesterone influence them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loyola University Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Maywood, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $184,568 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI183000-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11375977 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with uterine or reproductive health concerns where mucosal immunity may be relevant, or healthy volunteers for tissue and blood sampling.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not involved in uterine mucosal immunity studies or who do not participate in donor sampling may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project studies tissue-resident uterine NK cells, a unique immune population that sits in the uterine lining. It aims to uncover where these cells come from, how they differentiate, and how they function during the hormonal changes of the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. Using an NIH-funded approach, researchers will investigate the relationship between circulating NK cells and the tissue-resident cells in the uterine mucosa. The findings could reveal key steps in immune protection at mucosal sites and how hormones shape immune responses during reproduction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Insights could lead to better understanding of uterine immunity and pregnancy-related immune issues, potentially informing therapies for infections or reproductive complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows tissue-resident NK cells in the uterus have specialized roles, suggesting this line of research could yield actionable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Loyola University Chicago
Maywood, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sojka, Dorothy K. — Loyola University Chicago
- Study coordinator: Sojka, Dorothy K.
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.