WNK1-dependent control of emergency production of blood immune cells
Official title: WNK1-dependent macropinocytosis mediates emergency myelopoiesis
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11552997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a specific nutrient-sensing kinase called WNK1 helps blood cells, especially neutrophils, form quickly during infections, which could reveal new ways to support immune responses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HL171844-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11552997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with blood disorders or inflammatory/infectious diseases where emergency neutrophil production is relevant may benefit from advances in this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without immune or inflammatory conditions may not directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
The project looks at how hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells decide to become different myeloid cells and how signaling and transcription factors guide this process during emergencies like infection. It focuses on the role of WNK1 in directing whether cells become monocytes/macrophages or granulocytes such as neutrophils. By understanding this switch, researchers hope to explain why emergency neutrophil production can become excessive or deficient and how this affects disease. The study combines molecular biology and animal or cell-based models to uncover the cellular mechanisms behind emergency hematopoiesis and its impact on infection and inflammation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of emergency neutrophil production could lead to targeted strategies to support immune responses during infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked signaling pathways to myeloid cell fate, with some successes in translating basic findings into immune-supporting approaches; this study explores a novel role for WNK1.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Trzeciak, Alissa Jane — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Trzeciak, Alissa Jane
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.