Federal Grant Award Summary

The La Jolla Institute for Immunology received a $764,868 Project Grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855), awarded April 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2031. This award supports investigator-initiated biomedical research examining house dust mite (HDM) allergen-specific T cell subsets in allergic disease and asthma. The research focuses on identifying immunological mechanisms that differentiate between natural tolerance and allergen sensitization, with particular emphasis on characterizing CD4+ helper T cell subsets using single-cell transcriptomic analysis. The institute will investigate the protective role of HDM-specific interferon response T cells and the pathogenic contributions of interleukin-9-expressing tissue-resident memory T cells in allergic asthma development.

The research deliverables include mechanistic studies conducted across the Isle of Wight Whole Population Birth Cohort to determine associations between specific T cell subsets and HDM sensitization outcomes. Primary scientific products will comprise data characterizing T cell diversity, gene expression signatures, and cellular phenotypes relevant to allergic disease pathogenesis. Research findings are expected to advance understanding of immune tolerance mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for allergy and asthma prevention and treatment, thereby contributing to the broader public health objective of improving outcomes for the one-third of the population affected by allergic diseases.