Award
NIH Reporter #5U01AI176320-03
T cells promoting transitions toward autoimmunity
Recipient
Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason
Award Amount
$1,287,310.00
Ceiling
$1,287,310.00
Awarded
August 11, 2026
Identifier
5U01AI176320-03
Research grant to study how naïve T cells contribute to the transition from sub-clinical autoimmunity to autoimmune disease, focusing on type 1 diabetes and Down syndrome, aiming to develop targeted therapies and biomarkers.
Description
The proposed studies will investigate how naïve T cells promote the transition from sub-clinical autoimmunity to autoimmune disease, focusing on this transition in individuals at-risk for type 1 diabetes and in individuals with Down syndrome, which is a genetic condition at high-risk for developing autoimmune disease. The research aims to deeply characterize T cells across platforms from at-risk subjects, address the role of epigenetics, and identify external triggers contributing to disease progression. The ultimate goal is to contribute to disease staging, develop targeted therapies, and establish biomarkers for risk and response to therapy.