Using patient-derived stem-cell immune cells to learn why people respond differently to infections
iPSC-derived macrophages as a model to study the genetic basis of inter-individual variation in immune responses to pathogens
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · NIH-11263630
Researchers will grow immune cells from donated patient stem cells to find genetic and chromatin differences that help explain why some people handle tuberculosis and flu better than others.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11263630 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
They take cells from people and reprogram them into induced pluripotent stem cells, then turn those into macrophages (a type of immune cell) to model real human immunity. The lab exposes these lab-grown macrophages to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and influenza virus to observe how cells from different people react. They use genomic and chromatin assays such as ATAC-seq and other molecular tests to find DNA variants and epigenetic differences linked to stronger or weaker immune responses. By comparing many donors from diverse backgrounds, they aim to map genes and regulatory pathways that drive inter-individual and population-level differences in infection responses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to donate blood or tissue samples, including individuals from diverse ancestries and both healthy volunteers and those with prior TB or influenza exposure.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment for an infection are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to biomarkers and new targets that help predict risk or improve prevention and treatment for TB and influenza.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies have used iPSC-derived immune cells and genomic tools to model infections, but applying this approach across many donors to map population-level genetic and chromatin effects is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BARREIRO, LUIS BRUNO — UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: BARREIRO, LUIS BRUNO
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.