Federal Grant Award Summary

Brigham and Women's Hospital, through its Department of Faulkner Pathology, received a $199,000 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective June 12, 2026 through May 31, 2031. This award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining the role of lung T follicular helper (TFH) cell subsets in airway-localized immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and allergic airway disease pathogenesis. The research will generate scientific knowledge regarding the developmental origin, phenotype, effector function, and spatial organization of TFH and TFH13 cells within lung tissue, with particular focus on their contribution to local IgE production and regional immunopathology.

The deliverables from this award include characterization studies of lung-resident TFH and TFH13 cell populations using novel mouse models and human clinical cohorts, identification of allergen-specific IgE B cell differentiation trajectories and pathogenic potential within lung tissue, and elucidation of cellular and anatomical mechanisms underlying localized IgE responses in allergic airway disease. These research products are intended to advance understanding of allergic disease mechanisms and inform development of targeted therapeutic interventions for asthma and related allergic conditions.