Federal Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $130,923 Project Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865), awarded July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2028. The grant supports a postdoctoral research fellow in Yale's Department of Pediatrics to conduct immunological research examining enterovirus-reactive placental T cells as predictive biomarkers for pancreatic islet autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) development in children. The research employs T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire sequencing and molecular analysis to identify and characterize TCR clones reactive to viral antigens and pancreatic islet autoantigens, with the objective of establishing a mechanistic link between early-life enterovirus exposure and subsequent autoimmune disease risk.

The deliverables include scientific characterization of prenatal enterovirus exposure signatures through TCR sequencing, identification of pathogenic T cell clones cross-reactive to both viral and self-antigens, and development of risk prediction tools for pancreatic islet autoimmunity. This research addresses the epidemiological association between childhood enterovirus infection and elevated T1D risk by providing molecular-level understanding of environmental triggers in autoimmune disease pathogenesis. The award supports the candidate's transition toward research independence within Yale's pediatric immunology research enterprise, generating foundational knowledge to inform prevention and intervention strategies for childhood autoimmune disease.