Award
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences 1R21TR006240-01
MimicMaker: an integrated platform for identifying relevant mimics of T cell antigens
Recipient
University of Notre Dame, IN, United States
Award Amount
$434,500.00
Ceiling
$434,500.00
Awarded
May 04, 2026
Identifier
1R21TR006240-01
Development of MimicMaker, an AI-driven platform to identify molecular mimics of T cell epitopes, aiming to improve immunotherapy safety and efficacy by predicting cross-reactive mimics before immune recognition.
Description
This project aims to develop a translational platform called MimicMaker that uses data science, AI-driven 3D structural modeling, and deep learning to prospectively identify molecular mimics of T cell epitopes within genetic databases. The platform addresses the challenge of TCR cross-reactivity and molecular mimicry, which are critical in understanding autoimmunity, transplant rejection, and immunotherapy safety. The project will generate and refine data from a mouse model of virus-accelerated transplant rejection, with collaborations to test and validate the platform for potential applications in oncology, autoimmunity, and transplantation.