Project Grant K99AI196240

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded The Leland Stanford Junior University a Project Grant of $127,926 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. The research initiative focuses on characterizing autoreactive B cells and elucidating their pathogenic mechanisms in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Stanford's research will deliver scientific outputs including transcriptomic and B cell receptor (BCR) profiling of autoreactive B cells from lupus patients, investigation of human-specific TLR7 (toll-like receptor 7) mutations in immune organoid models, and characterization of proinflammatory monocytes activated by bacterial peptidoglycans in SLE disease pathogenesis.

The project comprises three coordinated research aims designed to advance understanding of how autoreactive B cells transition from a tolerogenic to pathogenic state. Deliverables include dysregulated transcriptional pathway analysis in autoreactive B cells, empirical evidence regarding the role of TLR7Y264H mutations in autoimmune responses, and mechanistic insights into monocyte-driven B cell activation in SLE. The research findings are intended to elucidate fundamental disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic strategies for this complex autoimmune condition, thereby advancing the scientific knowledge base supported through NIAID's investigator-initiated research program.